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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 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 question 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 assessment, what exist, and where minor lesions sit in the wider service at Centre for Surgery’s CQC-regulated Baker Street private .

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, appearance, location — that an plastic surgeon can usually identify on clinical examination alone. Imaging is rarely needed for the common benign lesions. Where any doubt exists, with analysis 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 features, common locations, and the 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 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 textured. What clinically is whether they show concerning features such as asymmetry, irregular borders, colours, a diameter 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 — the right technique depends on the size, depth, and clinical features of the mole. Laser mole is available for benign raised moles where laboratory analysis is not . Every mole is sent for histological analysis 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 . For the distinction, see .

An cyst forms when epidermal cells become trapped the skin surface, usually at a hair or after minor trauma. The trapped cells continue to produce keratin, which accumulates 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 but can become acutely if the wall breaks down, producing a rapidly 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 patients should never attempt: a cyst at home. The reasons — and risks — are covered in

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

Lipomas

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

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 questions at our clinic — the full breakdown is in .

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

Skin tags are and harmless, but can catch on or jewellery, become irritated, or be bothersome. is straightforward — typically under local 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 clusters of dilated blood vessels near the skin surface. They 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 . at Centre for Surgery uses Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm — the is selectively absorbed by within the and produces with minimal mark on the skin. For the full guide, see

Warts and verrucas

Warts are small, rough-surfaced caused by with the human (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 persistent or warts often treatment.

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

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

Xanthelasma

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

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

Milia removal (tlcark.com)

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 epidermoid cysts — but are much smaller and more superficial. Milia are common in (where they usually spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to persist.

making a tiny incision in the overlying skin and extracting the keratin contents. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is . Multiple 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, warrant prompt professional assessment:

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

How are skin lumps and bumps removed?

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

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

Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?

Many practitioners can technically remove a skin lump — GPs, and aesthetic nurses all perform minor procedures. 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 to:

For on visible areas — face, neck, hands, decolletage — this shows. For full discussion, see

What about the NHS?

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

NHS waiting times for suspicious lesion have in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS treatment is essentially . Patients who want a lump or lesion assessed and in a reasonable 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, multiple colours, bleeding or 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 . Most small benign are for a few hundred pounds; more cases are priced individually at consultation. through Chrysalis Finance is available.

Any that breaks the skin produces 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. surgical minimises more than other approaches.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more on lesions, see our cluster of guides on , , , , and our broader .

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Centre for is a private hospital on London’s Baker Street, plastic and cosmetic through . Our expertise spans facial procedures and , , for men, and body procedures such as and . Patient safety, surgical excellence and results sit at the heart of everything we do.

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