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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 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 options exist, and where minor lesions sit in the wider service 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 distinct . Each has features — feel, depth, appearance, — that an experienced surgeon can usually identify on 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 characteristic 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 lesion professional 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, 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 surgical excision, or laser — the right technique on the size, depth, and of the mole. Laser mole is available for benign raised moles where laboratory is not . Every excised 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 identical. For the 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 trapped cells continue to keratin, which accumulates within a thin capsule, the firm, round, mobile lump of the . A small dark spot — the punctum — is often visible on the skin surface above the cyst.


Common cyst sites include the face, neck, scalp, back and chest. Cysts are usually but can become inflamed if the wall breaks down, producing a rapidly swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete excision of the cyst wall — leaving any behind means the cyst will reform, as covered in


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


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


Lipomas


A lipoma is a benign, slow-growing tumour made up of mature fat cells. It within the fat layer and is within a thin capsule. Lipomas feel distinctly soft — often described as doughy or rubbery — and move freely the skin when pressed. The overlying skin 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).


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


at Centre for Surgery is performed under local anaesthetic as a . For most patients, is the appropriate — see and for procedure and recovery detail. For patients with lipomas, in one 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 most commonly 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 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 cautery or fine surgical excision. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is excellent.


Cherry angiomas


Cherry angiomas (also called de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, red or purple bumps caused by tiny clusters of 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 harmless but can catch on clothing, bleed after shaving, or cause cosmetic . 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, growths caused by with the human papillomavirus (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 over months to years, but persistent or symptomatic warts often .


options include cryotherapy, electrocautery, and surgical 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 underlying virus can persist in skin — this is the nature of the condition rather than a failure 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 pinched. They are thought to after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or cut — and persist indefinitely without treatment.


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


Xanthelasma


Xanthelasma are yellowish, lipid-rich plaques that develop 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 with have lipid profiles.


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


Milia removal (auradental.co.uk)


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


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


Other common lesions


Several other minor skin lesions are commonly 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 anaesthetic as a 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 are used depending on the type and size of the lesion:


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


Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?


Many practitioners can remove a skin lump — GPs, and 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 are specifically trained to:


For lesions on areas — face, neck, hands, — 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 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 assessment have lengthened in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS is . Patients who want a lump or lesion and removed 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 include rapid growth, change in colour or shape, borders, colours, or without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion appearing for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these warrant assessment.


Pricing depends on the type, number, size and of . Most small benign are for a few hundred pounds; more complex 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 visible over six to twelve months. minimises scarring more than other approaches.


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


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


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


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


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


For more on lesions, see our of guides on , , , , and our service.


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