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, 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 assessment, what treatment exist, and where minor lesions sit in the wider 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 categories. Each has features — feel, depth, surface appearance, — that an surgeon can usually on examination alone. is rarely needed for the common benign . Where any doubt exists, surgical removal 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 typical removal we use at Centre for .

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 pigmented lesion warrants review.

Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly . What clinically is whether they show concerning features such as asymmetry, irregular borders, multiple 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 by using either shave excision, formal surgical excision, or laser — the right depends on the size, depth, and clinical of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for benign raised moles where laboratory analysis is not required. Every surgically mole is sent for analysis 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 the skin surface, usually at a blocked hair follicle or after minor trauma. The trapped cells continue 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 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 inflamed if the wall breaks down, a rapidly swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete excision of the cyst wall — 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 covered in

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

Lipomas

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

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 performed under local anaesthetic as a day-case procedure. For most patients, excision is the appropriate — see and for procedure and recovery detail. For 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 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 .

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

Cherry angiomas

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

Cherry are harmless but can catch on clothing, bleed after shaving, or cause . at Centre for Surgery uses long-pulse Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm — the wavelength is absorbed by 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 spontaneously over months to years, but persistent or symptomatic warts often .

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

Dermatofibromas

are firm, benign nodules that most develop on the legs, particularly in women. They are usually small (5–10mm), light brown to reddish-brown, and have a characteristic appearance when the surrounding skin is pinched. They are thought to after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or shaving cut — and persist without treatment.

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

Xanthelasma

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 elevated cholesterol levels, though not all patients with xanthelasma have abnormal lipid profiles.

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

Milia

Milia are tiny, cysts that develop under the surface of the skin, most commonly around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the Temple & Forehead Fillers [https://babesaesthetics.com]. They are filled with — 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 .

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

Other common lesions

Several other minor skin 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 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 as a day-case at our Baker Street clinic. The 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 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 objective. We discuss the options at rather than 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 minor procedures. What sets a plastic surgeon apart is the focus on the cosmetic of the removal, not just the removal itself.

Plastic surgeons are specifically trained to:

For 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 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 suspicious lesion assessment have lengthened in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS is essentially unavailable. Patients who want a lump or lesion and removed in a will typically need to do so . For full discussion, see

What we don’t recommend

Frequently asked questions

Most are not. Concerning include rapid growth, change in colour or shape, borders, colours, or itching without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these warrant assessment.

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

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

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

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

Yes — cases are assessed individually and treated where appropriate. Some lesions benefit from being left to naturally; others are better dealt with . We discuss this carefully at 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 Surgery is a CQC-regulated plastic surgery clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone. All are by consultant under local as day-case procedures. 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 lesions, see our cluster of in-depth guides on , , , , and our broader .

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

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