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

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Most adults will develop a skin lump or bump at some point — and most are benign. Moles, cysts, lipomas, skin tags, cherry angiomas, warts, dermatofibromas, xanthelasma, milia, seborrhoeic keratoses and a dozen other minor skin are part of normal life. The is rarely "is it dangerous?" — in the vast majority 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 exist, and where minor sit in the wider at Centre for Surgery’s CQC-regulated Baker Street private hospital.

How to tell what kind of lump you have

Most skin lumps fall into a small number of categories. Each has characteristic — feel, depth, surface appearance, — that an experienced plastic can usually identify on examination alone. Imaging is rarely needed for the common benign . Where any doubt exists, with histological 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 approach we use at Centre for .

Moles

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

Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly . What is whether they show concerning such as asymmetry, irregular borders, multiple 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 excision, or laser removal — the right depends on the size, depth, location and clinical features of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for suitable benign raised moles where laboratory is not required. Every surgically excised mole is sent for histological analysis as standard. For more detail on technique choice, see and

Cysts

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

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

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

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

cysts a brief mention as they are particularly common in who have had ear — see for the specific approach.

Lipomas

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

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

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

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

Skin tags

Skin tags are small, soft, fleshy growths 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 breasts and around the eyes. They are particularly common in middle age, in pregnancy, and in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Skin tags are and harmless, but can catch on or jewellery, become irritated, or be cosmetically . is — typically performed under local anaesthetic with or fine surgical . is fast and the cosmetic result is excellent.

Cherry angiomas

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

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

Warts and verrucas

Warts are small, rough-surfaced growths caused by 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 spontaneously over months to years, but or symptomatic warts often .

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

Dermatofibromas

are firm, benign nodules 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 when the surrounding skin is . They are thought to after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or cut — and indefinitely without .

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

Xanthelasma

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

at Centre for Surgery uses erbium laser for in most cases, with surgical excision reserved for larger or deeper lesions. We also 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 under the of the skin, most commonly around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the . They are filled with — the same found in cysts — but are much smaller and more . Milia are common in newborns (where they usually resolve spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to persist.

involves making a tiny in the skin and the contents. is fast and the result is . milia can be in a single session.

Other common lesions

Several other minor skin lesions are commonly 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 symptoms. Some, however, prompt professional assessment:

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

How are skin lumps and bumps removed?

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

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

Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?

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

are specifically trained to:

For lesions 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 suspicious for cancer or that cause documented functional problems. Cosmetic — where the lesion benign but the patient wishes to have it removed for aesthetic reasons or peace of mind — is generally not funded.

NHS dermatology waiting times for suspicious lesion assessment have lengthened in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS is unavailable. who want a lump or lesion assessed and removed in a reasonable timeframe will 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, bleeding or itching without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion appearing for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these professional assessment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, . All are by GMC-registered consultant surgeons under local anaesthetic as day-case procedures. Every is sent for histological analysis as standard. For most benign lesions, same-day and removal is available — no GP referral is required.

For more on lesions, see our of guides on , , , , and our service.

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