Pyogenic granuloma is a common benign (not cancer) skin growth made up of many blood vessels on the skin. The head, neck, upper trunk, hands, and feet are the most common locations.
The cause is not known, but it may be related to a minor injury to the skin, hormones, or certain drugs. It grows rapidly over several weeks to about half an inch in size. It looks raised, red, and moist and may bleed easily. It most often occurs in children, pregnant women, and those taking certain drugs.
Pyogenic granuloma can be removed with surgery. Nonsurgical treatments include scraping off with an instrument (cautery), using a chemical like silver nitrate, laser therapy, electric treatment (electrocautery), or cryotherapy.
It can take a few weeks for the wound to heal after treatment. More than one treatment may be needed. A pyogenic granuloma may regrow after treatment.
Home care
These guidelines can help you care for yourself at home:
-
Unless told otherwise, you should change your dressing once a day. If the bandage sticks, soak it off in warm water.
-
Wash the area with soap and water to remove all cream, ointment, drainage, or scab. Use a wet cotton swab to loosen and remove any blood or crust that forms. You may do this in a sink, under a tub faucet, or in the shower. Rinse off the soap and pat dry with a clean towel. Look closely for any signs of infection.
-
Reapply cream or ointment to prevent infection and keep the bandage from sticking.
-
Cover the area with a nonstick gauze. Then wrap it with the bandage material.
-
If the bandage becomes wet or soiled, change it as soon as possible.
-
You may use over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control pain, unless another medicine was prescribed. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, stomach ulcer, or digestive tract bleeding, talk with your health care provider before using these medicines. Don't give ibuprofen to children younger than age 6 months. Don't give aspirin to children younger than age 19 years. This is to prevent a serious illness called Reye syndrome that may result in brain or liver damage.
-
Avoid scratching, picking, or causing any trauma at the surgery site.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your health care provider, or as advised. Sometimes an infection may occur after any surgical procedure. So look closely at your wound in 2 days for the signs of infection listed below.
When to get medical care
Call your health care provider or seek medical care right away if:
-
You have increasing pain in the wound.
-
You see increasing redness, swelling, or pus coming from the wound.
-
You see red streaks in your skin coming from the wound.
-
You have a fever of 100.4°F (38ºC) or higher, or as advised by your provider.
If the condition comes back after treatment, you may need to follow up with your provider for more treatment.
