Common Skin Lumps And Bumps: A Plastic Surgeon’s Guide
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Most adults will a skin lump or bump at some point — and most are benign. Moles, cysts, lipomas, skin tags, cherry angiomas, warts, dermatofibromas, xanthelasma, milia, 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 treatment options exist, and where minor lesions sit in the wider at Centre for Surgery’s 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 features — feel, depth, surface appearance, location — that an plastic can usually on clinical examination alone. Imaging is rarely needed for the common benign . Where any doubt exists, with histological analysis provides definitive .
The most common skin lumps and bumps fall into these broad groups:
The rest of this guide covers each in turn, with features, common locations, and the typical we use at Centre for Surgery.
Moles
A mole — called a melanocytic naevus — is a benign of 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 review.
Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly textured. What is whether they show concerning such as asymmetry, borders, multiple colours, a diameter 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 removal — the right technique on the size, depth, and 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 as standard. For more detail on technique 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 identical. For the distinction, see .
An cyst forms when epidermal cells become the skin surface, usually at a hair follicle or after minor trauma. The trapped cells to produce keratin, which within a thin fibrous capsule, forming the firm, round, mobile lump characteristic of the . A small dark spot — the — is often on the skin above the cyst.
Common cyst sites include the face, neck, scalp, back and chest. Cysts are usually painless but can become acutely if the wall breaks down, a rapidly swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete excision of the cyst wall — leaving any portion behind means the cyst will reform, as in
One thing should never attempt: a cyst at home. The reasons — and risks — are in
cysts a brief mention as they are particularly common in who have had ear — see for the specific .
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 capsule. Lipomas feel distinctly soft — often described as doughy or rubbery — and move freely beneath the skin when pressed. The skin appears normal, with no 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 develop multiple lipomas (a condition called lipomatosis).
Telling a lipoma apart from a cyst is one of the most common diagnostic questions at our clinic — the full breakdown is in .
at Centre for is under local anaesthetic as a day-case procedure. For most patients, excision is the appropriate technique — see and for and recovery 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 most in skin folds — the neck, armpits, groin, under the and around the eyes. They are particularly common in middle age, in pregnancy, and in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Skin tags are painless and harmless, but can catch on or jewellery, become irritated, or be cosmetically . is straightforward — typically performed under local with cautery or fine excision. Healing is fast and the result is excellent.
Cherry angiomas
Cherry angiomas (also called Campbell de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, dome-shaped red or purple bumps caused by tiny clusters of dilated blood near the skin . 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 is by haemoglobin within the vessels and produces clearance with minimal mark on the skin. For the full guide, see
Warts and verrucas
Warts are small, caused by with the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can develop 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 or symptomatic warts often .
options include cryotherapy, electrocautery, and . 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 persist in surrounding skin — this is the nature of the condition rather than a failure of treatment.
Dermatofibromas
are firm, benign nodules that most commonly develop on the legs, particularly in women. They are usually small (5–10mm), light brown to reddish-brown, and have a when the skin is pinched. They are thought to develop after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or shaving cut — and persist indefinitely without treatment.
Dermatofibromas are benign but can be mistaken for other by the untrained eye. Surgical is the only treatment — they don’t respond to treatment or freezing. Excision leaves a small linear scar that fades over six to twelve months.
Xanthelasma
Xanthelasma are yellowish, that on the — most commonly on the upper inner aspect of the upper eyelid. They are most often associated with cholesterol levels, though not all with have abnormal lipid profiles.
at Centre for uses erbium laser for scarless surface in most cases, with surgical excision reserved for larger or deeper . We also recommend lipid screening for any presenting with xanthelasma, as treatment of the cosmetic lesion is more durable when any underlying lipid is also addressed.
Milia
Milia are tiny, cysts that develop under the of the skin, most commonly around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the forehead. They are filled with keratin — the same protein found in cysts — but are much smaller and more . Milia – mouse click the next internet page – are common in newborns (where they usually resolve spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to persist.
involves making a tiny incision in the skin and extracting the keratin contents. is fast and the result is excellent. milia can be in a single .
Other common lesions
Several other minor skin lesions are commonly 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 assessment:
The ABCDE rule — Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter, Evolution — is a useful prompt for lesions. For full detail, see
How are skin lumps and bumps removed?
Most minor skin are under local anaesthetic as a day-case procedure at our Baker Street clinic. The patient remains awake throughout, the area is fully numbed before any is made, and most patients are able to drive themselves home afterwards. Several are used depending on the type and size of the lesion:
The right is to the lesion, the location, the patient’s skin type, and the clinical objective. We the 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, dermatologists and nurses all perform minor . What sets a apart is the focus on the cosmetic of the removal, not just the itself.
surgeons are specifically trained to:
For lesions on areas — face, neck, hands, decolletage — this shows. For full discussion, see
What about the NHS?
The NHS will remove skin lesions that are for cancer or that cause documented functional problems. removal — where the lesion benign but the wishes to have it removed for aesthetic reasons or peace of mind — is generally not funded.
NHS dermatology waiting times for suspicious lesion have lengthened in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS treatment is essentially . Patients who want a lump or lesion and in a reasonable timeframe will typically need to do so privately. 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 cause, a hard texture, or any lesion appearing for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these professional .
Pricing on the type, number, size and of lesions. Most small benign are removed for a few hundred pounds; more complex cases are priced at consultation. through Chrysalis Finance is available.
Any 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 visible over six to twelve months. Plastic surgical technique scarring more than other approaches.
The local 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, on consultation findings. We this at the initial and proceed the same day where appropriate.
Every specimen at Centre for Surgery is sent for histological analysis as standard. This applies to all removed tissue regardless of whether the lesion looked benign clinically.
Yes — paediatric cases are individually and treated where appropriate. Some lesions benefit from being left to resolve naturally; others are better dealt with surgically. We discuss this at with the parent or guardian.
Most patients are offered a consultation within one to two weeks. Where a lesion is clinically concerning, we can usually more urgent assessment.
Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone. All are performed by plastic under local as . Every specimen is sent for as . For most benign lesions, assessment and is available — no GP is required.
For more on lesions, see our cluster of guides on , , , , and our service.
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