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, keratoses and a dozen other minor skin 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 service at Centre for Surgery’s Baker Street private hospital.
How to tell what kind of lump you have
Most skin lumps fall into a small number of categories. Each has characteristic features — feel, depth, surface appearance, location — that an experienced can usually identify on clinical examination alone. is rarely needed for the common benign lesions. Where any doubt exists, removal with histological 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 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 review.
Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly textured. What is whether they show concerning such as asymmetry, borders, multiple colours, a diameter greater than 6mm, or any change over time. For a full guide to benign moles from melanoma, see
At Centre for Surgery, moles are removed by using either shave excision, formal surgical excision, or laser removal — the right technique on the size, depth, and clinical features of the mole. Laser mole is available for benign raised moles where analysis is not . Every surgically mole is sent for histological as standard. For more detail on choice, see and
Cysts
The most common skin cyst in adults is the cyst — widely referred to as a “sebaceous cyst”, though the two terms are not technically . For the precise distinction, see .
An epidermoid cyst forms when cells become trapped the skin surface, usually at a hair follicle or after minor trauma. The trapped cells continue to keratin, which accumulates within a thin capsule, forming the firm, round, mobile lump characteristic 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 if the wall breaks down, a 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 should never attempt: a cyst at home. The — and risks — are covered in
cysts deserve a brief separate mention as they are particularly common in patients who have had ear piercings — see for the specific treatment approach.
Lipomas
A lipoma is a benign, tumour made up of mature fat cells. It within the fat layer and is within a thin fibrous capsule. Lipomas feel soft — often described as doughy or — and move freely the skin when pressed. The overlying skin normal, with no like a cyst’s .
Lipomas 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 multiple (a called lipomatosis).
Telling a lipoma apart from a cyst is one of the most common at our clinic — the full breakdown is in .
at Centre for is performed under local anaesthetic as a procedure. For most patients, is the appropriate technique — see and for procedure and 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 develop 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 with type 2 .
Skin tags are painless and harmless, but can catch on or jewellery, become irritated, or be cosmetically bothersome. is straightforward — typically performed under local with or fine excision. is fast and the cosmetic 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 of blood vessels near the skin . They typically between 1 and 5mm and become more common with age. Most adults will at least one by their 40s.
Cherry angiomas are harmless 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 haemoglobin within the vessels and produces with minimal mark on the surrounding skin. For the full guide, see
Warts and verrucas
Warts are small, rough-surfaced growths caused by 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 over months to years, but persistent or warts often warrant treatment.
options include cryotherapy, electrocautery, and . The right choice on the size, location, depth and the patient’s history of previous . is common with all techniques because the underlying virus can persist in surrounding skin — this is the nature of the condition rather than a failure of .
Dermatofibromas
are firm, benign that most commonly develop on the legs, particularly in women. They are usually small (5–10mm), light brown to reddish-brown, and have a dimpled when the surrounding skin is pinched. They are thought to after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or shaving cut — and indefinitely without .
Dermatofibromas are benign but can be mistaken for other lesions by the eye. Surgical is the only treatment — they don’t respond to treatment or freezing. Excision leaves a small linear scar that fades over six to twelve months.
Xanthelasma
are yellowish, lipid-rich plaques that develop on the eyelids — most commonly on the upper inner aspect of the upper eyelid. They are most often associated with elevated levels, though not all patients with xanthelasma have abnormal lipid .
at Centre for Surgery uses erbium laser for scarless ablation in most cases, with excision reserved for larger or deeper lesions. We also lipid for any patient presenting with xanthelasma, as of the lesion is more durable when any underlying lipid is also .
Milia
Milia are tiny, cysts that develop under the of the skin, most around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the . They are filled with keratin — the same protein found in cysts — but are much smaller and more superficial. Milia are common in (where they usually spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to persist.
involves making a tiny incision in the skin and extracting the keratin contents. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is . 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 professional assessment:
The ABCDE rule — Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter, — is a useful self-examination prompt for pigmented lesions. For full detail, see
How are skin lumps and bumps removed?
Most minor skin are under local anaesthetic as a day-case procedure at our Baker Street clinic. The patient 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 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 rather than to a single 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 of the removal, not just the removal itself.
surgeons are specifically 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 for cancer or that cause documented problems. removal — where the lesion benign but the wishes to have it for or peace of mind — is generally not funded.
NHS dermatology waiting times for suspicious lesion assessment have lengthened in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS treatment is essentially unavailable. who want a lump or lesion assessed and removed in a reasonable timeframe will 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, irregular borders, multiple 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.
depends on the type, number, size Wart and verruca removal location of lesions. Most small benign lesions are removed for a few hundred pounds; more cases are priced individually at . through 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 minimises scarring more than other approaches.
The local injection is the most part of the — usually only briefly. The itself is painless. Mild for one to two days afterwards is normal and well with .
Yes for most benign lesions, depending on findings. We this at the and proceed the same day where appropriate.
Every surgically excised at Centre for Surgery is sent for as standard. This applies to all removed tissue regardless of whether the lesion looked benign .
Yes — paediatric cases are individually and where appropriate. Some lesions benefit from being left to naturally; others are better dealt with surgically. We discuss this carefully at consultation with the parent or .
Most patients are offered a consultation within one to two weeks. Where a lesion is concerning, we can usually more urgent assessment.
Centre for is a CQC-regulated clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, . All are by GMC-registered consultant plastic under local anaesthetic as day-case . Every excised is sent for histological as standard. For most benign lesions, and is available — no GP referral is .
For more on specific lesions, see our of in-depth guides on , , , , and our broader .
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