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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, 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 treatment options exist, and where minor sit in the wider at Centre for Surgery’s CQC-regulated Baker Street private hospital.


How to tell what kind of lump you have


Most skin lumps fall into a small number of . Each has features — feel, depth, surface appearance, location — that an experienced plastic surgeon can usually identify on alone. 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 removal approach we use at Centre for .


Moles


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


Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly . What matters is whether they show concerning features such as asymmetry, irregular borders, 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 surgical excision, or laser — the right technique on the size, depth, location and clinical features of the mole. Laser mole is available for benign raised moles where laboratory is not required. Every surgically mole is sent for as standard. For more detail on technique choice, see and


Cysts


The most common skin cyst in adults is the cyst — widely to as a "sebaceous cyst", though the two terms are not identical. For the precise distinction, see .


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


Common cyst sites include the face, neck, scalp, back and chest. Cysts are usually painless but can become if the wall breaks down, producing a swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete 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 covered in


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


Lipomas


A lipoma is a benign, tumour made up of mature fat cells. It develops within the subcutaneous fat layer and is enclosed within a thin fibrous capsule. Lipomas feel distinctly soft — often described as doughy or — and move freely beneath the skin when pressed. The overlying skin normal, with no surface 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 Wart and removal (Https://Babesaesthetics.com/) thighs. Most are solitary, but some 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 is performed under local anaesthetic as a day-case procedure. For most patients, surgical is the appropriate technique — see and for and recovery detail. For patients with 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 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 and harmless, but can catch on clothing or jewellery, become irritated, or be . is straightforward — under local anaesthetic with or fine surgical excision. is fast and the result is .


Cherry angiomas


Cherry angiomas (also called de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, dome-shaped red or purple bumps caused by tiny clusters 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 concern. at Centre for uses Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm — the is selectively by haemoglobin within the vessels and with minimal mark on the surrounding skin. For the full guide, see


Warts and verrucas


Warts are small, caused by with the human (HPV). They can almost anywhere but are most common on the hands, feet (where they are called verrucas), and around the nails. Many over months to years, but or symptomatic warts often treatment.


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


Dermatofibromas


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


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


Xanthelasma


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


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


Milia


Milia are tiny, pearly-white cysts that develop under the of the skin, most commonly around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the . They are filled with — the same protein 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 .


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


Other common lesions


Several other minor skin lesions are 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 . Some, however, 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 are under local as a day-case at our Baker Street clinic. The remains awake throughout, the area is fully numbed before any 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 clinical . We discuss the options at consultation rather than committing to a single approach 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 procedures. What sets a surgeon apart is the focus on the cosmetic outcome of the removal, not just the removal itself.


Plastic are specifically to:


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


What about the NHS?


The NHS will remove skin that are for cancer or that cause documented functional problems. Cosmetic removal — where the lesion benign but the patient wishes to have it for 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 unavailable. who want a lump or lesion and removed 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, borders, multiple colours, or itching without cause, a hard texture, or any lesion appearing for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these professional .


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


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


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


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


Yes — paediatric cases are assessed and treated where appropriate. Some lesions benefit from being left to naturally; others are better dealt with surgically. We discuss this 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 .


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


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


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


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


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