About the Condition
The skin is the largest organ of the body. Its top layer is the epidermis, which provides protection against the environment. The second layer of the skin is the dermis, which supplies blood, oxygen, strength and support. Underneath the dermis is the hypodermis, or subcutaneous fat layer, which provides an ongoing blood supply to the dermis.
Lipomas occur when round or oval lumps of fat cells grow together within a thin capsule of tissue under the skin. These benign, or harmless, tumors range from the size of a walnut or smaller to that of a baseball. The neck, chest, back, forearms and thighs are the most common sites for lipoma development.
The texture of a lipoma is usually soft and rubbery. The overlying skin appears normal and is not connected to the tumor, thus it is moveable under the skin.
Most people with lipomas have no noticeable symptoms other than the appearance of the lumps. Some may experience mild tenderness. Lipomas can also cause pain if they grow against a nerve.
No one knows what causes lipomas to develop, but there is thought to be a genetic, or inherited, component. They are commonly found in overweight people, but losing weight will not shrink or eliminate lipomas. Some people only have one lipoma, while others may develop many.
Occasionally lipomas can arise deeper in the body and affect muscles, tendons, internal organs or other bodily tissues. This type of lipoma more often affects men, and is most commonly found in the large muscles of the arms and legs.
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