• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

Common Skin Lumps And Bumps: A Plastic Surgeon’s Guide

Posted on [post_date] [post_comments] [post_edit]

Most adults will a skin lump or bump at some point — and most are entirely benign. Moles, cysts, lipomas, skin tags, cherry angiomas, warts, dermatofibromas, xanthelasma, Milia removal, seborrhoeic keratoses and a dozen other minor skin are part of normal life. The question is rarely "is it dangerous?" — in the vast of cases it isn’t — but rather "what is it, do I need anything done about it, and if so what?"

This guide covers the most common types of skin lumps and bumps, how they differ from each other, when they need professional assessment, what treatment exist, and where minor sit in the wider service at Centre for Surgery’s CQC-regulated Baker Street hospital.

How to tell what kind of lump you have

Most skin lumps fall into a small number of distinct . Each has features — feel, depth, surface appearance, — that an experienced surgeon can usually on examination alone. is rarely needed for the common benign . Where any doubt exists, surgical with analysis provides definitive diagnosis.

The most common skin lumps and bumps fall into these broad groups:

The rest of this guide covers each in turn, with characteristic features, common locations, and the typical removal we use at Centre for .

Moles

A mole — medically called a melanocytic naevus — is a benign of pigment-producing cells. Most adults have between 10 and 40 moles, and most are entirely harmless. New moles can appear up to around age 40; after this age, any new pigmented lesion warrants professional review.

Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly textured. What matters clinically is whether they show concerning features such as asymmetry, irregular borders, colours, a greater than 6mm, or any change over time. For a full guide to benign moles from melanoma, see

At Centre for Surgery, moles are by using either shave excision, formal surgical excision, or laser — the right depends on the size, depth, location and clinical of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for benign raised moles where laboratory analysis is not required. Every mole is sent for analysis as standard. For more detail on choice, see and

Cysts

The most common skin cyst in adults is the epidermoid cyst — widely referred to as a "sebaceous cyst", though the two terms are not technically identical. For the precise distinction, see .

An epidermoid cyst forms when cells become beneath the skin surface, usually at a blocked hair follicle or after minor trauma. The trapped cells continue to keratin, which within a thin fibrous capsule, forming the firm, round, mobile lump of the condition. A small dark spot — the — is often visible on the skin surface above the cyst.

Common cyst sites include the face, neck, scalp, back and chest. Cysts are usually but can become inflamed if the wall breaks down, producing a rapidly swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete of the cyst wall — leaving any portion behind means the cyst will reform, as in

One thing patients should never attempt: a cyst at home. The reasons — and risks — are in

Earlobe cysts deserve a brief separate as they are particularly common in patients who have had ear piercings — see for the treatment .

Lipomas

A lipoma is a benign, tumour made up of mature fat cells. It develops within the subcutaneous fat layer and is enclosed within a thin . feel distinctly soft — often described as doughy or rubbery — and move freely the skin when . The skin normal, with no surface like a cyst’s .

Lipomas are the most common soft tissue tumour in adults, affecting approximately one in every hundred people. They most often develop on the shoulders, upper back, neck, upper arms and thighs. Most are solitary, but some patients develop multiple lipomas (a called lipomatosis).

Telling a lipoma apart from a cyst is one of the most common diagnostic at our clinic — the full breakdown is in .

at Centre for is under local as a procedure. For most patients, excision is the appropriate technique — see and for and detail. For with multiple lipomas, in one is available. Recurrence after complete excision is uncommon, as discussed in

Skin tags

Skin tags are small, soft, fleshy that hang from the skin on a thin stalk. They are entirely benign and develop most commonly in skin folds — the neck, armpits, groin, under the and around the eyes. They are particularly common in middle age, in pregnancy, and in with type 2 .

Skin tags are painless and harmless, but can catch on or jewellery, become irritated, or be . is straightforward — performed under local with or fine . Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is .

Cherry angiomas

Cherry (also called de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, dome-shaped red or purple bumps caused by tiny clusters of dilated blood vessels near the skin surface. They between 1 and 5mm and become more common with age. Most adults will at least one by their 40s.

Cherry are but can catch on clothing, bleed after shaving, or cause cosmetic concern. at Centre for Surgery uses long-pulse Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm — the wavelength is absorbed by haemoglobin within the and produces clearance with minimal mark on the surrounding skin. For the full guide, see

Warts and verrucas

Warts are small, growths caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can almost anywhere but are most common on the hands, feet (where they are called verrucas), and around the nails. Many resolve spontaneously over months to years, but persistent or symptomatic warts often warrant .

include cryotherapy, electrocautery, and surgical excision. The right choice depends on the size, location, depth and the patient’s history of previous . is common with all because the underlying virus can persist in skin — this is the nature of the condition rather than a failure of treatment.

Dermatofibromas

are firm, benign that most commonly on the legs, particularly in women. They are usually small (5–10mm), light brown to reddish-brown, and have a characteristic dimpled appearance when the surrounding skin is pinched. They are thought to develop after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or cut — and without treatment.

Dermatofibromas are benign but can be mistaken for other lesions by the untrained eye. Surgical excision is the only — they don’t respond to treatment or . leaves a small linear scar that fades over six to twelve months.

Xanthelasma

Xanthelasma are yellowish, that develop on the eyelids — most on the upper inner aspect of the upper eyelid. They are most often associated with elevated cholesterol levels, though not all patients with xanthelasma have lipid .

at Centre for Surgery uses erbium laser for scarless surface ablation in most cases, with surgical reserved for larger or deeper lesions. We also recommend lipid screening for any patient presenting with xanthelasma, as treatment of the cosmetic lesion is more when any underlying lipid is also addressed.

Milia

Milia are tiny, pearly-white cysts that develop under the surface of the skin, most around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the forehead. They are filled with keratin — the same found in epidermoid cysts — but are much smaller and more superficial. Milia are common in newborns (where they usually resolve spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to .

involves making a tiny incision in the overlying skin and the keratin contents. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is . Multiple milia can be in a single session.

Other common lesions

Several other minor skin lesions are treated at our Baker Street clinic:

When to seek professional assessment

Most skin lumps and bumps are entirely benign and can be safely ignored if they don’t cause . Some, however, warrant prompt professional assessment:

The ABCDE rule — Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter, — is a useful prompt for lesions. For full detail, see

How are skin lumps and bumps removed?

Most minor skin lesions are removed under local as a day-case at our Baker Street clinic. The remains awake throughout, the area is fully numbed before any incision is made, and most are able to drive themselves home afterwards. Several techniques are used on the type and size of the lesion:

The right technique is matched to the lesion, the location, the patient’s skin type, and the clinical . We discuss the options at rather than to a single in advance.

Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?

Many can remove a skin lump — GPs, dermatologists and aesthetic nurses all perform minor procedures. What sets a plastic surgeon apart is the focus on the cosmetic outcome of the removal, not just the removal itself.

surgeons are specifically to:

For on visible areas — face, neck, hands, — this difference shows. For full discussion, see

What about the NHS?

The NHS will remove skin lesions that are clinically suspicious for cancer or that cause documented functional problems. Cosmetic — where the lesion appears benign but the patient wishes to have it removed for reasons or peace of mind — is generally not funded.

NHS dermatology waiting times for lesion assessment have in recent years; for benign removal, NHS treatment is essentially unavailable. who want a lump or lesion and in a reasonable will typically need to do so . For full discussion, see

What we don’t recommend

Frequently asked questions

Most are not. Concerning features include rapid growth, change in colour or shape, borders, colours, or itching without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these assessment.

Pricing on the type, number, size and of lesions. Most small benign lesions are removed for a few hundred pounds; more cases are priced individually at consultation. through Chrysalis is available.

Any procedure that breaks the skin produces some form of mark. For most benign lesion removals, the final scar is a fine pale line that fades to barely visible over six to twelve months. surgical more than other approaches.

The local anaesthetic injection is the most uncomfortable part of the procedure — usually only briefly. The removal itself is painless. Mild for one to two days afterwards is normal and well managed with paracetamol.

Yes for most benign lesions, depending on consultation . We discuss this at the initial and the same day where appropriate.

Every specimen at Centre for Surgery is sent for histological as . This applies to all removed tissue regardless of whether the lesion looked benign clinically.

Yes — paediatric cases are assessed individually and treated where appropriate. Some lesions from being left to resolve naturally; others are better dealt with . We this carefully at consultation with the parent or .

Most patients are offered a within one to two weeks. Where a lesion is clinically concerning, we can usually more urgent assessment.

Centre for Surgery is a plastic surgery clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone. All are performed by GMC-registered under local anaesthetic as day-case . Every excised is sent for histological analysis as . For most benign lesions, same-day and is available — no GP is .

For more on specific lesions, see our cluster of in-depth guides on , , , , and our broader service.

Centre for Surgery · · GMC specialist-registered · · · ·

Filed Under:

Share this post

Primary Sidebar

I agree to receive ()

I agree to receive communications ()

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated on London’s Baker Street, plastic and through GMC-registered surgeons. Our spans facial procedures and , , for men, and body contouring procedures such as and . Patient safety, surgical and results sit at the heart of everything we do.

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated hospital on London’s iconic , offering and cosmetic surgery led by GMC-registered consultant surgeons.

Marylebone

London

W1U 6RN

Mon – Sat, 9am – 6pm

Saturday consultations available