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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 are part of normal life. The 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 options exist, and where minor lesions sit in the wider service at Centre for Surgery’s CQC-regulated Baker Street .


How to tell what kind of lump you have


Most skin lumps fall into a small number of categories. Each has characteristic features — feel, depth, appearance, location — that an experienced plastic can usually on alone. 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 features, common locations, and the 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 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 . What is whether they show concerning features 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 removed by using either shave excision, formal surgical excision, or laser removal — the right technique on the size, depth, and features of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for benign raised moles where laboratory analysis is not . Every surgically mole is sent for histological as . 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 technically identical. For the precise distinction, see .


An epidermoid cyst forms when epidermal cells become trapped beneath the skin surface, usually at a blocked hair follicle or after minor trauma. The trapped cells continue to produce keratin, which within a thin capsule, the firm, round, mobile lump characteristic of the condition. A small dark spot — the punctum — is often visible 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 inflamed if the wall breaks down, a swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete of the cyst wall — leaving any portion behind means the cyst will reform, as covered in


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


Earlobe cysts deserve a brief separate mention as they are particularly common in patients who have had ear — see for the treatment 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 . Lipomas feel distinctly soft — often described as doughy or rubbery — and move freely the skin when pressed. The overlying skin 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 develop on the shoulders, upper back, neck, upper arms and thighs. Most are solitary, but some patients develop lipomas (a condition 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 performed under local as a . For most patients, excision is the appropriate technique — see and for procedure and recovery detail. For patients with multiple lipomas, in one session is available. after complete 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 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 with type 2 diabetes.


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


Cherry angiomas


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


Cherry angiomas are but can catch on clothing, bleed after shaving, or cause concern. at Centre for uses long-pulse Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm — the wavelength is selectively absorbed by within the vessels and clearance with minimal mark on the surrounding 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 resolve spontaneously over months to years, but persistent or warts often treatment.


options include cryotherapy, electrocautery, and excision. The right choice depends on the size, location, depth and the patient’s history of previous treatment. Recurrence is common with all techniques because the virus can persist in skin — this is the nature of the condition rather than a failure 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 dimpled when the surrounding skin is pinched. They are thought to after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or cut — and persist indefinitely without .


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


Xanthelasma


are yellowish, lipid-rich that on the eyelids — most on the upper inner aspect of the upper eyelid. They are most often associated with cholesterol levels, though not all with xanthelasma have abnormal lipid .


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


Milia


Milia removal are tiny, cysts that develop under the surface of the skin, most commonly around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the . 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 resolve spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to persist.


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


Other common lesions


Several other minor skin are 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 . For full detail, see


How are skin lumps and bumps removed?


Most minor skin lesions are removed under local anaesthetic as a day-case at our Baker Street clinic. The patient remains awake throughout, the treatment area is fully numbed before any 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 objective. We discuss the at consultation rather than to a single in .


Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?


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


Plastic are specifically trained to:


For lesions on visible areas — face, neck, hands, decolletage — 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 problems. Cosmetic 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 suspicious lesion assessment 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 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, irregular borders, multiple colours, bleeding or itching without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these warrant .


depends on the type, number, size and location of . Most small benign are removed for a few hundred pounds; more cases are priced individually at consultation. 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. technique scarring more than other approaches.


The local is the most part of the procedure — usually only briefly. The 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 . We this at the initial and 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 individually and where appropriate. Some lesions from being left to resolve naturally; others are better dealt with . We this at with the parent or .


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


Centre for Surgery is a plastic clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone. All are performed by consultant plastic under local anaesthetic as day-case . Every excised specimen is sent for analysis as standard. For most benign lesions, assessment and removal is available — no GP referral is .


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


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