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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 entirely benign. Moles, cysts, lipomas, skin tags, cherry angiomas, warts, dermatofibromas, xanthelasma, milia, seborrhoeic keratoses and a dozen other minor skin lesions 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 assessment, what treatment exist, and where minor 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 distinct . Each has characteristic features — feel, depth, surface appearance, — that an experienced can usually on clinical alone. Imaging is rarely needed for the common benign lesions. Where any doubt exists, surgical removal with histological analysis provides 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 removal approach we use at Centre for Surgery.

Moles

A mole — medically called a naevus — is a benign cluster 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 lesion review.

Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly . What matters clinically is whether they show concerning such as asymmetry, borders, 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 removed by using either shave excision, formal surgical excision, or laser removal — the right technique depends on the size, depth, location and clinical of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for suitable benign raised moles where laboratory is not . Every surgically excised mole is sent for 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 distinction, see .

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

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

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

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

Lipomas

A lipoma is a benign, tumour made up of mature fat cells. It develops within the subcutaneous fat layer and is within a thin . Lipomas feel distinctly soft — often described as doughy or rubbery — and move freely beneath the skin when . The overlying skin normal, with no surface 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 and thighs. Most are solitary, but some develop (a condition called lipomatosis).

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

at Centre for Surgery is performed under local anaesthetic as a . For most patients, surgical excision is the appropriate technique — see and for procedure and detail. For patients with multiple lipomas, in one is available. Recurrence 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 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 clothing or jewellery, become irritated, or be cosmetically . is straightforward — typically performed under local anaesthetic with or fine excision. 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 of blood vessels near the skin . They typically between 1 and 5mm and become more common with age. Most adults will develop at least one by their 40s.

Cherry angiomas are harmless but can catch on clothing, bleed after shaving, or cause cosmetic . 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, 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 over months to years, but or symptomatic warts often warrant treatment.

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

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 characteristic when the surrounding skin is pinched. They are thought to develop after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or cut — and without .

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

Xanthelasma

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

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

Milia

Milia removal (https://diyahaesthetics.com) are tiny, 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 protein found in epidermoid cysts — but are much smaller and more . Milia are common in newborns (where they usually spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to .

involves making a tiny in the skin and extracting the keratin contents. is fast and the cosmetic result is excellent. milia can be treated in a single .

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 assessment:

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

How are skin lumps and bumps removed?

Most minor skin are under local as a 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 techniques are used on the type and size of the lesion:

The right technique is to the lesion, the location, the patient’s skin type, and the objective. We discuss the at consultation rather than committing 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 . What sets a plastic surgeon apart is the focus on the outcome of the removal, not just the removal itself.

Plastic are specifically trained to:

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

What about the NHS?

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

NHS dermatology waiting times for lesion assessment have in recent years; for benign removal, NHS is essentially . who want a lump or lesion assessed and in a reasonable will 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, multiple colours, bleeding or itching without cause, a hard texture, or any lesion for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these professional assessment.

Pricing depends on the type, number, size and of lesions. Most small benign lesions are for a few hundred pounds; more complex cases are priced individually 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 over six to twelve months. Plastic surgical scarring more than other approaches.

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

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

Every surgically excised at Centre for is sent for histological analysis as standard. This to all removed tissue regardless of whether the lesion looked benign .

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

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

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

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

Centre for Surgery · CQC-regulated · GMC surgeons · · · ·

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