The appearance of a lump on the wrist often triggers anxiety. The reason, circulating assumptions often associate lumps with cancer. In fact, lumps on the wrist can be caused by various causes.
In fact, there are many medical conditions that can cause lumps to form on the wrist. One of them is lipoma. Even so, these conditions are generally benign (non-cancerous), so they are not dangerous.
Various Causes of Bumps on Wrist
The following are some diseases that can cause lumps on the wrist:
1. Lipoma
Lipomas are lumps filled with fat that accumulate between the skin and the muscle layer. These lumps can appear anywhere on the body, but are most common in the neck, shoulders, armpits and wrists.
Lipomas often appear unnoticed by sufferers, because they do not cause pain. Some of the characteristics of lipomas include:
- The growth is very slow
- Feels soft to the touch
- Easy to shake
- Color with surrounding skin
There is no specific treatment for lipomas. However, if the lipoma is painful and increases in size, there are several treatment options that can be done, namely corticosteroid injections, liposuction, and surgical removal of the lipoma.
2. Ganglion cyst
Ganglion cysts are the most common cause of wrist lumps. Lumps from ganglion cysts can grow along the tendons and joints of the wrist. In addition to the wrist, ganglion cysts can also be found in other parts of the body, such as the feet and ankles.
Ganglion cysts can vary in size from the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball.
Ganglion cysts can be recognized by the following characteristics:
- Round or oval shape
- Size between 1-3 cm
- Not easy to shake when touched
- Does not cause pain when touched
Most ganglion cysts go away on their own, so they don't require special treatment. However, if a ganglion cyst is painful and interferes with activity, your doctor may perform suctioning of fluids or surgical removal of the cyst.
3. Warts
Another condition that can cause lumps to appear on the wrist is warts. Warts are caused by infection human papillomavirus (HPV) in the skin.
The virus that causes warts can be transmitted very easily. This transmission can occur if in direct contact with the patient's skin or objects contaminated by the HPV virus.
Here are the characteristics of a lump on the wrist due to warts:
- Small, flesh-like lumps
- Reddish or brown in color
- Has a rough texture
Most warts go away on their own. However, treatment steps still need to be done, especially if the warts spread to other parts of the body and cause pain. One treatment is to apply an ointment containing salicylic acid.
4. Epidermoid cyst
Epidermoid cysts can also be the cause of the appearance of lumps on the wrist. These cysts grow when dead skin cells get trapped in the skin, forming a lump.
In addition to the skin on the wrists, epidermoid cysts can appear on the scalp, face, neck, wrists, back, and genital area.
Physically, you can recognize this epidermoid cyst by observing its characteristics, such as:
- The lump has a blackhead at the top of the bump.
- If it becomes inflamed, the area around the epidermoid cyst may become red and swollen.
- When ruptured, an epidermoid cyst will secrete a thick, yellow fluid that has an unpleasant odor.
Although most epidermoid cysts do not require special treatment, you still need to consult a doctor if your epidermoid cyst is getting bigger, unobtrusive, and ruptures.
Most lumps that appear on the wrist are non-cancerous. However, you still shouldn't take it for granted. Immediately consult a doctor if the lump on the wrist does not go away in several months and causes pain.