Trichoepithelioma

Key points
Condition results in single or multiple benign tumors or blemishes arising on the face.
The tumors or blemishes are small, firm, rounded and shiny and can be varying in color.

Trichoepithelioma is an uncommon condition in which a single blemish or multiple benign tumors (harmless skin growths) arise on the face after puberty. The tumor cells form follicles but do not form actual hair shafts. Multiple trichoepitheliomas is more common in females. The tumors are small, firm, rounded and shiny, and may be yellow, pink, brown or bluish. They usually gradually increase in number with age, occurring on both cheeks, eyelids and around the nose. The desmoplastic trichoepithelioma, a solitary ring-shaped shiny blemish, is usually excised because it can look like a basal cell carcinoma.

Differential Diagnosis (Other conditions with similar appearance)
Basal cell carcinoma
Colloid Milium
Cylindroma
Follicular Infundibulum Tumor
Milia
Miliaria
Pilar Cyst
Steatocystoma multiplex
Syringoma
Trichilemmoma
Trichofolliculoma

Diagnosis
Key Points
Primary diagnosis involves clinical identification.
Testing is useful to eliminate similar conditions.

Primary diagnosis can be performed through clinical identification by a medical professional. Tests such as biopsies can be performed to determine the blemishes and tumors are not related to similar conditions.

Treatment
The tumors may be removed surgically if malignancy is suspected.
Partial destruction of the tumor is followed by regrowth.

Trichoepilthelioma tumors may be removed surgically through excision biopsies if there is any suspicion of malignancy. Carbon dioxide laser and dermabrasion may improve the appearance but partial destruction of the tumor is usually followed by regrowth