Conditions · Lesions & Growths

Syringomas

Syringomas are benign tumours of the eccrine sweat ducts — not milia, not sebaceous, and not treatable by extraction.

Mechanism

What is actually happening

Small skin-coloured to slightly yellow papules, typically 1 to 3 mm, clustering symmetrically under the eyes and on the upper cheeks. They arise from the intraepidermal portion of the eccrine duct.

The distinction

How it is told apart

The commonest misdiagnosis is milia. Milia are white and discrete; syringomas are skin-coloured, flatter, and cluster in sheets. Milia can be de-roofed and emptied. Syringomas cannot — there is nothing inside to express.

Assessment

What is established first

Distribution and symmetry, colour against surrounding skin, onset age, family history, and whether the pattern is eruptive.

Approach

What is typically done

Because the lesions sit within the dermis and are numerous, management focuses on reducing their prominence rather than clearing them entirely. Ablative approaches are used cautiously around the eyelid, where skin is thin.

When treatment waits

When it is deferred

Syringomas are persistent and recurrence after treatment is common. Anyone promising permanent clearance is overstating what the tissue allows.

Frequently asked

What is syringomas?

Syringomas are benign tumours of the eccrine sweat ducts — not milia, not sebaceous, and not treatable by extraction.

How is syringomas told apart from similar conditions?

The commonest misdiagnosis is milia. Milia are white and discrete; syringomas are skin-coloured, flatter, and cluster in sheets. Milia can be de-roofed and emptied. Syringomas cannot — there is nothing inside to express.

What is assessed before treating syringomas?

Distribution and symmetry, colour against surrounding skin, onset age, family history, and whether the pattern is eruptive.

When is treatment deferred?

Syringomas are persistent and recurrence after treatment is common. Anyone promising permanent clearance is overstating what the tissue allows.

Have this assessed

Every assessment is carried out personally by Dr Sin Yong, Medical Director. 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza.

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