What is Dilated Pore of Winer?
A dilated pore of Winer, first mentioned by Louis H. Winer in 1954, is a common, harmless skin growth that stems from follicles, the tiny pores in the skin that produce hair. These growths often occur on the head and neck, but they can also appear on the body of middle-aged and elderly people. Most of the time, they don’t cause any symptoms. They simply look like a single enlarged pore with a buildup of skin protein (keratin) and the skin around it is usually normal. The good news is that these growths are harmless and usually don’t require any further medical exams or tests. A doctor may only need to examine the tissue under a microscope in cases where the diagnosis is unclear. While treatment is not necessary, the growth can be removed for cosmetic reasons if it bothers the individual.
What Causes Dilated Pore of Winer?
There’s some debate about what exactly causes a dilated pore of Winer. Some people think it’s just a specific kind of skin cyst that has an overly reactive lining. Others believe it to be a variation of a condition called nevus comedonicus.
Despite the disagreement, recent studies have confirmed that a dilated pore of Winer is its own type of skin growth that originates from the structure that surrounds the hair follicle. However, the exact cause and process of how it forms are still unknown.
In his initial research, Winer noticed a connection between these pores and a history of cystic acne, a serious form of acne that causes big, inflamed cysts on the skin, as well as other cyst-like conditions. He also noticed they are sometimes caused by sun damage.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Dilated Pore of Winer
A dilated pore of Winer can affect both men and women, but it’s seen more often in men and in white individuals. Most people who get a dilated pore of Winer are over 40, but it has been reported in people as young as 20.
Signs and Symptoms of Dilated Pore of Winer
A dilated pore of Winer is a skin condition that looks like a single, large pore. This pore may be blocked with a solid plug made of a substance called keratin, which usually has a softer, white material beneath. These are typically not painful or bothersome, and the skin around the pore usually looks healthy. Sometimes, sun damage may be visible on the surrounding skin. If the pore is disturbed or manipulated, it may become inflamed or infected, painful, and swollen. These pores often develop on the face, head, and neck area. However, they can also appear on the body, commonly on the back. This condition often affects middle-aged or older individuals, especially those who previously had severe acne.
Testing for Dilated Pore of Winer
A dilated pore of Winer is often identified just by looking at it, this is what we mean when we say ‘it’s usually a clinical diagnosis’. There is no need for a detailed microscopic examination, although it can be done if there’s any doubt about what the issue might be, or if the patient decides to have the lesion removed for reasons such as its appearance. No additional tests or investigatory procedures are needed.
Treatment Options for Dilated Pore of Winer
A dilated pore of Winer doesn’t need any specific treatment. However, if someone wants to remove it for cosmetic reasons, it can usually be taken out with a punch biopsy or in an elliptical manner. Both procedures are typically quite effective.
The keratin material inside the pore can also be removed using a comedone extractor, a specialized tool for cleaning pores. But, keep in mind that keratin, a type of protein, will gradually build up again within the pore over time.
Other methods like electrodesiccation (use of electricity to dry out a spot), electrocautery (use of electricity to burn a spot), laser surgery, dermabrasion (a technique that exfoliates your skin), and cryotherapy (use of extreme cold for treatment) are less effective because they can’t reach the base of the pore properly. Also, there aren’t any effective medications to treat these pores.
What else can Dilated Pore of Winer be?
A dilated pore of Winer and a typical nevus comedonicus can be differentiated easily because the latter involves multiple openings filled with a hard protein called keratin. However, if only one opening is present, a microscopic examination might be necessary to tell them apart. A dilated pore of Winer is more common in middle-aged or old people, while a nevus comedonicus typically occurs either at birth or in childhood.
A Pilar sheath acanthoma, similar to a dilated pore of Winer, appears as a central opening filled with keratin, and mainly shows up on the faces of older adults. These usually occur on the upper lip and have a more elevated component compared to a dilated pore of Winer. Under a microscope, a Pilar sheath acanthoma has a thicker wall with outgrowths radiating from the central cavity, which may contain
trapped keratin, spin-like structures, or sebaceous (oil) glands. An epidermal inclusion cyst, another skin condition that may look like a dilated pore of Winer, often shows up on the face and trunk. These have a round component that tends to move freely and lack a keratin plug. Instead, they are filled with a thick, cheesy keratin material, which can produce a bad smell when squeezed out. When examined under the microscope, epidermal inclusion cysts are different in that they are true cysts found within the skin and are lined by a specific type of skin tissue and filled with loose keratin.
Although it’s rare, some types of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinomas, could also be associated with enlarged pores. These skin cancers tend to show up on men’s faces and can cause confusion with a dilated pore of Winer. Such a skin cancer has a history of slowly enlarging over the years and might or might not have keratin debris. The typical patient is someone with thick, oily skin who has used tobacco.
What to expect with Dilated Pore of Winer
Getting rid of the lesion completely is generally the best option to treat the condition. If the entire lesion is not removed, there’s a chance that it may come back. So far, there haven’t been any deaths linked to a dilated pore of Winer. There are no known conditions associated with it either.
Though rare, there are reports of skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas developing from dilated pores of Winer. However, it’s believed that these are likely just coincidences. There’s also a rare report of a trichoblastoma, another kind of skin tumor, emerging from a dilated pore of Winer.
If a person tries to remove the keratin plug, a tiny protein blockage, from the lesion, it might cause irritation or infection in the skin around it.
Possible Complications When Diagnosed with Dilated Pore of Winer
Problems that can occur after a surgery include scarring, infection, and bleeding. The risk of getting an infection after surgery can be reduced if the surgery area is kept clean and free from germs. If an infection occurs before or after the surgery, it can be handled by using antibiotics either in the form of a cream applied to the skin or oral medication, depending on how severe the infection is.
