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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 benign. Moles, cysts, lipomas, skin tags, cherry angiomas, warts, dermatofibromas, xanthelasma, milia, and a dozen other minor skin lesions are part of normal life. The question 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 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 distinct . Each has features — feel, depth, surface appearance, location — that an plastic can usually identify on clinical examination alone. is rarely needed for the common benign . Where any doubt exists, surgical removal with 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 characteristic features, common locations, and the typical approach we use at Centre for Surgery.

Moles

A mole — called a naevus — is a benign 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 pigmented lesion review.

Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly textured. What matters 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 distinguishing benign moles from melanoma, see

At Centre for Surgery, moles are removed by using either shave excision, formal excision, or laser removal — the right technique depends on the size, depth, location and of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for suitable benign raised moles where laboratory analysis is not . Every mole is sent for histological analysis as . 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 epidermal cells become trapped beneath the skin surface, usually at a blocked hair or after minor trauma. The cells continue to keratin, which within a thin fibrous capsule, the firm, round, mobile lump of the condition. 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 painless but can become inflamed if the wall breaks down, a 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 patients should never attempt: removing 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 specific approach.

Lipomas

A lipoma is a benign, slow-growing tumour made up of mature fat cells. It develops within the subcutaneous fat layer and is enclosed within a thin fibrous capsule. Lipomas feel soft — often described as doughy or rubbery — and move freely beneath the skin when pressed. The overlying skin normal, with no 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 multiple lipomas (a called lipomatosis).

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

at Centre for Surgery is under local anaesthetic as a day-case . For most patients, excision is the appropriate technique — see and for procedure and recovery detail. For with lipomas, in one session 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 with type 2 .

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

Cherry angiomas

Cherry (also called de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, red or purple bumps caused by tiny of blood near the skin surface. They typically 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 cosmetic . at Centre for Surgery uses 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, rough-surfaced 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 treatment.

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

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

Xanthelasma

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

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

Milia

Milia (browse around this site) are tiny, pearly-white cysts that under the surface of the skin, most around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the forehead. 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 .

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

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 . Some, however, warrant prompt assessment:

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

How are skin lumps and bumps removed?

Most minor skin lesions are removed under local as a day-case procedure at our Baker Street clinic. The patient remains awake throughout, the treatment area is fully numbed before any incision 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 matched to the lesion, the location, the patient’s skin type, and the clinical . We the options 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 perform minor . What sets a plastic surgeon apart is the focus on the cosmetic outcome of the removal, not just the removal itself.

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

NHS waiting times for lesion have lengthened in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS is essentially . Patients who want a lump or lesion and in a 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, irregular borders, multiple colours, or without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these warrant assessment.

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

The local 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 with .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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