Dermatofibroma is a benign skin lesion that typically occurs on the lower extremities of middle aged-women.
Its cause is unknown but it is thought to develop in response to minor injuries such as shaving cuts, ingrown hairs or insect bites.
Dermatofibromas can occur in all races and at any age but commonly affect young adults. Women are affected four times more commonly than men.
These bumps are slow-growing firm pink to brown nodules and tend to be darker in darker-skinned individuals. Dermatofibromas can vary in size from several millimeters to one centimeter and are usually asymptomatic but can be itchy or tender. Pinching a dermatofibroma often illicit a dimpling on its surface, termed the “dimple sign.”
All dermatofibromas are benign. No treatment is required for dermatofibomas; however, they can be surgically excised if irritating or painful.
At Heart Lake Cosmetic Dermatology, we remove dermatofibromas surgically in the office under local anesthesias. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes and is painless.
