Proliferation: Causes, Treatment & Help

A growth – for many people the term itself does not bode well. Yet almost everyone has a growth somewhere in their body and not every growth is also a malignant tumor. But how do you recognize a growth?

What is a growth?

Typical forms of growths are the polyps, cysts, abscesses and the benign and malignant tumors. A proliferation is tissue that deviates from its normal state. Other common terms are lump, tumor and swelling. Among medical professionals, it is also referred to as “wild flesh.” Growths are thickened tissues that have grown suddenly and very rapidly. They can occur practically anywhere in the human body. Cysts on the ovaries are also among them, as are growths in fatty tissue or polyps in the throat. Ingrown skin on nails is also called a growth, but it is harmless. Based on their nature, growths are divided into different classes. Typical forms of growths are the polyps, cysts, abscesses and the benign and malignant tumors.

Causes

The causes of growths are not known in every case. The place where the growth first appeared is also important. At the beginning, however, there is always an uncontrolled growth of cells. This growth is misdirected. Growths can arise once due to external influences. This can already include a strong blow. Pressure points (for example on the foot) can also lead to increased growth of the skin. Growths can also grow on the gums after a surgical intervention. The genetic background should not be forgotten either. Growths can also be the result of taking chemical substances. Organs that are always inflamed in a certain place are also prone to the formation of growths.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Tumor
  • Intestinal polyps
  • Gastric polyps
  • Liver cyst
  • Polyps
  • Gallbladder polyps
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Breast cysts
  • Ovarian cyst
  • Fibroma
  • Nasal polyps
  • Jaw cysts

Diagnosis and course

The development of a growth almost always goes unnoticed. Only when the growth has reached a certain extent, the affected person becomes aware. Thus, organs can be pushed aside, resulting in painful symptoms. Nerves are pinched off or the blood supply is obstructed. In other cases, the growths reach an easily visible size and can be easily palpated through the skin. This need not be considered a bad sign by any means. In all cases, the diagnosis for a growth is made by the physician. He can best recognize what form it is. To do this, he uses visual equipment as well as other procedures, such as laboratory tests and biopsies. Only then is the diagnosis of proliferation established.

Complications

In the case of a proliferation, there is initially a risk that it is an ulcer or a malignant tumor. Depending on the extent and location of the tissue proliferation, patients may experience movement disorders and pain that increase as the proliferation grows. The proliferation itself may cause circulatory disturbances, pressure sensations and pain. If the growth increases in size, there is also a risk of displacing other tissue, nerves and organs. A larger growth in the gastrointestinal tract can cause constipation, and in the area of the heart, life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias can rarely occur. Typical complications also include pressure on the nerves and surrounding blood-bearing tissue, and the impairments that accompany this. If the growth bursts open, pus and blood enter the body, which can lead to life-threatening infections. If the tissue proliferation is underlying a serious disease, it can lead to further complications. Removal of the growth can reliably manage most complications; however, in some cases the wound becomes infected, which can lead to the development of further cysts and infections, as well as scarring.

When should you go to the doctor?

Whether a growth needs treatment depends on the type and size of the growth, as well as possible accompanying symptoms. Fibromas and warts, for example, are a cosmetic blemish and do not necessarily need to be treated.A visit to the doctor is only necessary if the growth becomes a mental burden, as is the case especially with fibromas in the face, neck or intimate area. Larger growths should always be removed to minimize the risk of injury. In addition, all growths should be clarified and, if necessary, treated if they occur for no apparent reason and are associated with accompanying symptoms such as itching, bleeding or fever. If an atheroma or ulcer is suspected, a physician must be consulted for diagnostic purposes alone. This is especially true in children, the elderly, pregnant women, and patients with a history of skin or internal organ disease. In the case of hemangiomas and similar growths, the family doctor or pediatrician should be consulted immediately. Suitable contacts are also the dermatologist, specialists in dermatology and doctors of internal medicine.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment of a growth depends on its nature and location in the body. First, it must be determined what form of a growth it is. Harmless ingrown flesh on a toenail is naturally treated in a different way than a malignant tumor in the breast. Especially in severe cases, treatment ranges from the administration of drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to surgery. In this case, the growth is removed. This can be done under general anesthesia or under local anesthesia. The removal of nasal polyps is well known. It usually takes place in early childhood and improves free breathing in the long term. Immunosuppressants can also be used in the case of a growth. The reason: growths occur when the organism is (over)active. Immunosuppressants can curb this activity a little. Many sufferers also seek help in alternative healing methods in the case of a proliferation. Acupuncture (including laser acupuncture) and bioresonance have been shown to be effective. Nevertheless, in case of a growth, one should not experiment. Under no circumstances should even scissors be used to “snip” at harmless-looking wild flesh. Growths belong in the hands of a doctor. Otherwise, it can easily happen that a simple skin change develops into a serious inflammation.

Outlook and prognosis

As a rule, the further course of a growth depends greatly on the affected region. In severe cases, the proliferation thereby occurs on the internal organs. Due to the proliferation, the functions of the affected areas are altered or completely reduced. Thus, they can also lead to pain or complete loss of function of the organs. In some cases, the growth also pinches nerves, so that paralysis or disturbances of sensibility may occur. If the function of internal organs is damaged, this can also lead to death in the worst case. Often, the patient’s everyday life is restricted by the disease and the quality of life decreases considerably. Aesthetic discomfort also occurs when the growths are directly visible on the skin. Patients sometimes suffer from depression and reduced self-esteem as a result. In most cases, a growth is removed surgically or with the help of radiation. Whether complications occur depends largely on the spread of the growth.

Prevention

It is not always possible to protect against a growth. However, a healthy lifestyle should be a priority to strengthen the immune system. This includes avoiding alcohol and cigarettes as much as possible. Both substances have a cell-damaging effect. Nevertheless: there is no guarantee that a proliferation will not occur.

This is what you can do yourself

Growths can have various causes and are usually harmless. For typical growths such as warts, age spots and Co. help simple measures and remedies from the household and homeopathy. Stalk warts, as they occur especially under the armpits or on the neck, are best removed with table salt or propolis. Sometimes applications of banana and yogurt applied overnight to the soft fibroids also help. Growths in the form of blackheads can be treated with warm steam and lotions made from apple cider vinegar or coconut oil. Against age spots help lemon juice and sparing. The skin and especially the growths should be protected from excessive sunlight and treated with nourishing products from specialized stores.For growths in the form of herpes help household zinc and toothpaste. An effective remedy from nature is tea tree oil, which is best applied directly to the painful blisters. Larger growths that hurt or are associated with accompanying symptoms should be treated by a doctor. It may be a malignant growth that can become infected and spread further if not treated properly.