Lipomas are benign lumps of fat deposition under the skin. They are soft lumps that are non-cancerous and usually not painful.
While they typically form on the neck, shoulders, arms, and back, lipomas can form on any art of the body where there are fat tissues.
Lipomas are the most common benign soft tissue growth. These could be an indicator that the cleansing system of the body is not working efficiently.
Although they are quite harmless, lipomas may appear unsightly or cause discomfort. This is why many people want to get rid of them.
This article helps you gain a thorough understanding of lipomas, its symptoms, causes, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. You will also learn some simple treatment methods to get rid of lipoma naturally.
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Lipomas are formed as lumps of 1-3 cm diameter, and can gradually grow as large as 10 cm, over months or even years.They have a soft, rubber-like feel and move under the skin, when prodded.
Some individuals may observe more than one lump.These are soft to touch, mostly painless and do not become inflamed. It produces no discoloration and is the same color as the skin.
The lipomas usually form on the neck, back, shoulders, abdomen, arms, armpits, and thighs.While usually, these are not painful, lipomas can cause discomfort depending on their size and location in the body.
Sometimes lipomas may from deep inside the body, where you can’t see or feel it. However, these may cause discomfort and produce symptoms as they press against nerves, blood vessels, or organs.
Causes of Lipoma
While the exact case of lipomas is not confirmed, it is believed to be an inherited condition, running in families.
The following genetic conditions may lead to the formation of lipomas:
- Adiposis dolorosa
- Gardner syndrome
- Madelung disease
- Cowden syndrome
- Familial multiple lipomatosis, leading to multiple lipomas.
The growth of lipomas may be triggered by injury or trauma to the soft tissues.
Lipomas may form due the inability of the body to eliminate metabolic wastes and toxins through normal means. This could be an imbalance in the functioning of the liver, kidneys, or intestines. It may be due to unhealthy lifestyles, including poor diets and lack of physical activity.
In such a situation, the body may try to remove the wastes by releasing them through the skin, which is the largest excretory organ. This is what appears as small lumps underneath the skin.
How To Diagnosied Lipoma?
Generally, lipomas are diagnosed by their appearance through physical examination.
As we have seen earlier, they are soft to touch and move upon touching.
Rarely, the formation may actually be a cancerous lump called liposarcoma. These are tumors within the fatty tissue that grow rapidly and are usually painful.
To confirm lipoma, the doctor may conduct the following tests:
- Biopsy- a small portion of the lump is taken for testing, to rule out the possibility of it being cancerous (liposarcoma).
- Imaging tests like CT scan, MRI or ultrasound
How To Treat Lipomas Naturally Using Home Remedies?
The treatment methods discussed above come with their own negative aspects.When the lipoma doesn’t cause you much discomfort, you can try a few natural, non-invasive ways to treat them.
These natural remedies don’t have any side effects and are completely safe to use. It is important to keep in mind that these do not produce instant results. You have to use them regularly and allow time to show results.
Here are some options:
1. Honey And Flour
Mix some honey and flour to get a thick, creamy mixture. Apply this mixture on the lipoma and cover it with a bandage or paper towel.
Leave this on for about 36 hours and then remove it. Repeat this procedure five times, over a week’s time.
2. Oils
Essential oils such as tea tree or sage oil can be used in combination with a carrier oil such as coconut or castor oil to be applied on the lipoma two times a day.
Castor oil can be gently massaged onto the affected area at bedtime, to remove the lipoma. You can also use neem oil to treat the lipoma.
Flaxseed oil contains omega fatty acids that reduce inflammation and protect the skin.
You can use a combination of neem and flaxseed oil with cooled green tea on the lipoma.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar softens the lipoma and eventually reduces its size. It helps to remove overall fat from the body and prevents the recurrence of lipomas. It also helps to improve metabolism and cleanses the body by flushing out wastes.
Take two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before you go to bed. You can begin with a teaspoon and gradually increase the quantity taken. Following this method for 3-5 months would reduce and cure the lipoma.
You can alternatively mix 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 teaspoon of honey in a cup of distilled water, and consume the drink. You can have this 2-3 times a day.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric is a herbal remedy to treat lipoma. It contains curcumin, which effectively shrinks the lumps and it can be used in many ways.
Mix ½ a teaspoon of turmeric powder with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and apply this paste directly on the lipoma. This helps to soften and reduce the size. You can alternatively use coconut, castor, flaxseed, or neem oil.
The turmeric can result in the yellow coloring of your clothes. Hence be careful, and you may cover the area with a clean bandage.
5. Sage
Sage is believed to have a natural attraction to fat, which is why topical application of sage on can dissolve and reduce the lipoma. It also maintains a healthy fluid balance in the body. It can be directly applied onto the lipoma.
6. Thuja
Thuja belongs to the cedar family and is commonly used in homoeopathic treatments for lipoma. Mix some thuja extract with water. Apply this mixture on the area affected by lipoma, repeating this two to three times a day.
7. Chickweed
Chickweed is an effective treatment to reduce the size of lipoma. It loosens up the fat, thereby softening the lump. It also helps to break down the fat accumulation that result in lipoma.
Mix 1 teaspoon of chickweed with 2-3 tablespoons of flaxseed or neem oil, and apply this paste on the lipoma. You can replace the oil with 1-2 tablespoons of cooled green tea.
Another remedy using chickweed is as follows:
Melt 2 tablespoons of beeswax over the stove and add 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to it. Later when it is mixed, add 1 tablespoon each of turmeric and chickweed powder. Apply the cooled mixture on the lipoma and cover it.
8. Green Tea
Green tea enhances metabolism and helps to burn fats. It can help to reduce the size of lipoma. It contains antioxidants and regulates blood sugar and fat. Tea can be used in combination with other remedies as a base, to treat lipoma.
Medical Treatment For Lipoma
Unless the lipoma causes extreme discomfort or pain, they are not given medical treatments.
Factors that affect the choice of treatment include:
- Size
- Location
- Number of tumors
- Family history and genetic factors
- Symptoms produced
Treatments for lipoma include:
i. Surgery
Lipomas can by removed by surgical means. This treatment is particularly helpful in case of large, growing lumps.
During surgery, the area around the lipoma is injected with local anesthesia. The doctor makes an incision in the skin and removes the lump. The incision is then closed with stitches.
Lipomas rarely recur after surgery.
Scarring and bruising are some possible side effects of surgical removal of lipomas.
ii. Liposuction
Since lipomas are lumps in the fatty tissues, liposuction is a treatment method to reduce the size and remove it.
This procedure removes lipoma using a needle and a syringe to draw out the contents.
iii. Steroid Injections
Steroid injections can be used to shrink the lipoma, not necessarily eliminating it. It mainly helps to reduce the size of the lipoma.
Who Are At Risk Of Developing Lipoma?
Lipomas are most commonly found in middle-aged people, between the ages of 40 and 60.
While they are found to occur equally in both men and women, multiple lipomas tend to occur more frequently in middle-aged men.
These are rarely found in children and youth.
Individuals with family histories of lipomas are at a higher risk of developing them.
People suffering from the genetic disorders discussed earlier may observe the formation of lipomas.
When Should It Be Treated?
Generally, lipomas are harmless and most people do not require treatments.
Multiple or recurrent lipoma formations can be due to genetic conditions, which may require medical treatment.
Large-sized lipomas can cause discomfort or look ugly, which is why you would want to seek treatment. These may need the diagnosis to make sure that they are not cancerous growths.
In case the lipoma swells up, feels painful or tender, becomes hard, discharges pus, or presses against a nerve, it would be advisable to consult a doctor.
How To Prevent Lipoma?
Improvements in diet can reduce and prevent the formation of lipoma. It stabilizes the functions of the body, maintains metabolism and ensures efficient waste removal from the body.
Cleansing the liver can help to treat and prevent lipoma formation. It eliminates body wastes and restores normal functioning of the liver. Following a healthy diet can naturally cleanse the liver.
Here Are Some Things To Keep An Eye On
- Reduce the intake of fatty foods.
- Avoid processed foods and carbonated drinks, which contain excess sugar, flavors, and preservatives. Excess sugar is converted into fats that get stored under the skin, which can lead to lipoma.
- Eat foods rich in fiber to maintain healthy digestion and bowel movement.
- Vitamins can help your body to naturally deal with lipoma. They also enhance the working of the liver to remove toxins. A healthy liver is key reduce lipoma and tumor formation.
Include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet to ensure that you get the benefits of vitamins. These also provide you with antioxidants.
- Lemon juice cleanses the body, helping the liver to flush out toxins and wastes from the body. Drink some lemon juice mixed with warm water in the morning.
- Drink adequate amounts of water to flush out toxins from the body.
These methods will surely help you treat lipoma naturally.
