• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

Warning: is_file(): open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/www/wwwroot/badabizline-com-2.nimbus-cdn.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/lumps-and-bumps-removal-London-1.png) is not within the allowed path(s): (/www/wwwroot/badabizline/:/tmp/) in /www/wwwroot/badabizline/lib/thumbnail.lib.php on line 145

Common Skin Lumps And Bumps: A Plastic Surgeon’s Guide

Posted on [post_date] [post_comments] [post_edit]

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, 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 options exist, and where minor lesions sit in the wider service 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 . Each has features — feel, depth, surface appearance, — that an experienced plastic can usually on clinical alone. Imaging is rarely needed for the common benign . Where any doubt exists, removal with histological 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 approach we use at Centre for Surgery.

Moles

A mole — medically called a melanocytic 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 lesion warrants professional 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, borders, 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 — the right technique depends on the size, depth, and features of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for suitable benign raised moles where laboratory analysis is not required. Every surgically mole is sent for histological analysis as . 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 cells become trapped beneath the skin surface, usually at a hair follicle or after minor trauma. The trapped cells to keratin, which accumulates within a thin fibrous capsule, the firm, round, mobile lump characteristic of the . A small dark spot — the punctum — 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 rapidly swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete excision of the cyst wall — leaving any behind means the cyst will reform, as in

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

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

Lipomas

A lipoma is a benign, slow-growing tumour made up of mature fat cells. It within the subcutaneous fat layer and is enclosed within a thin fibrous capsule. feel soft — often described as doughy or — and move freely beneath 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 develop on the shoulders, upper back, neck, upper arms and thighs. Most are solitary, but some patients 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 is in .

at Centre for Surgery is performed under local as a day-case . For most patients, excision is the appropriate — see and for procedure and recovery detail. For with lipomas, in one is available. 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 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 and harmless, but can catch on clothing or jewellery, become irritated, or be bothersome. is straightforward — performed under local with cautery or fine surgical excision. is fast and the cosmetic result is .

Cherry angiomas

Cherry (also called Campbell de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, dome-shaped red or purple bumps caused by tiny of dilated blood near the skin . They 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 cosmetic . at Centre for Surgery uses Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm — the wavelength is absorbed by haemoglobin within the and with minimal mark on the skin. For the full guide, see

Warts and verrucas

Warts are small, growths caused by infection 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 spontaneously over months to years, but persistent or warts often warrant treatment.

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

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

Xanthelasma

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

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

Milia

Milia are tiny, pearly-white cysts that under the of the skin, most commonly 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 . Milia are common in newborns (where they usually resolve spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to persist.

involves making a tiny in the overlying skin and the contents. Healing is fast and the result is excellent. Milia removal can be treated in a single session.

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, warrant prompt assessment:

The ABCDE rule — Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter, Evolution — is a useful prompt for pigmented . For full detail, see

How are skin lumps and bumps removed?

Most minor skin are removed under local as a day-case procedure at our Baker Street clinic. The remains awake throughout, the area is fully numbed before any incision is made, and most patients are able to drive themselves home afterwards. Several 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 clinical . We the at consultation rather than committing to a single approach in advance.

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 apart is the focus on the outcome of the removal, not just the removal itself.

Plastic surgeons are specifically to:

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

What about the NHS?

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

NHS waiting times for lesion have in recent years; for benign removal, NHS treatment is essentially . Patients who want a lump or lesion assessed 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 features include rapid growth, change in colour or shape, irregular borders, colours, bleeding or without cause, a hard texture, or any lesion appearing for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these warrant professional .

depends on the type, number, size and location of lesions. Most small benign lesions are removed for a few hundred pounds; more cases are priced individually at consultation. through Chrysalis Finance is available.

Any that breaks the skin 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. Plastic technique minimises scarring more than other approaches.

The local injection is the most uncomfortable part of the procedure — usually only briefly. The removal 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 findings. We discuss this at the appointment and the same day where appropriate.

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

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

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 clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone. All are by GMC-registered consultant under local anaesthetic as procedures. Every is sent for analysis as standard. For most benign lesions, assessment and is available — no GP referral is required.

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

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

Filed Under:

Share this post

Primary Sidebar

I agree to receive marketing communications ()

I agree to receive marketing ()

Centre for Surgery is a private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and cosmetic surgery through GMC-registered . Our spans facial including and , , for men, and body procedures such as and . Patient safety, surgical excellence and natural-looking results sit at the heart of everything we do.

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated hospital on London’s iconic , offering plastic and surgery led by .

Marylebone

London

W1U 6RN

Mon – Sat, 9am – 6pm

Saturday consultations available