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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, seborrhoeic keratoses and a dozen other minor skin 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 assessment, what exist, and where minor lesions sit in the wider service at Centre for Surgery’s Baker Street private .
How to tell what kind of lump you have
Most skin lumps fall into a small number of categories. Each has characteristic — feel, depth, appearance, location — that an experienced can usually identify on clinical examination alone. is rarely needed for the common benign lesions. Where any doubt exists, surgical removal with histological analysis provides definitive .
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 typical removal we use at Centre for .
Moles
A mole — medically called a melanocytic naevus — is a benign of 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 professional review.
Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly textured. What matters 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 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 depends on the size, depth, location and clinical features of the mole. Laser mole is available for suitable benign raised moles where laboratory analysis is not required. Every surgically excised mole is sent for as standard. 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 follicle or after minor trauma. The cells to keratin, which accumulates within a thin fibrous capsule, the firm, round, mobile lump characteristic of the . A small dark spot — the — is often visible 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 inflamed if the wall breaks down, producing a rapidly swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete excision of the cyst wall — leaving any portion behind means the cyst will reform, as covered in
One thing patients should never attempt: removing a cyst at home. The — and risks — are covered in
Earlobe cysts 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, slow-growing tumour made up of mature fat cells. It within the fat layer and is within a thin . feel soft — often described as doughy or — and move freely beneath the skin when . The skin appears normal, with no feature like a cyst’s punctum.
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 lipomas (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 is performed under local anaesthetic as a day-case procedure. For most patients, excision is the appropriate technique — see and for procedure and recovery detail. For with multiple lipomas, in one session is available. 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 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 .
Skin tags are and harmless, but can catch on or jewellery, become irritated, or be bothersome. is — typically under local with cautery or fine . Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is .
Cherry angiomas
Cherry angiomas (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 at least one by their 40s.
Cherry angiomas are harmless but can catch on clothing, bleed after shaving, or cause cosmetic concern. at Centre for uses long-pulse Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm — the wavelength is absorbed by within the vessels and with minimal mark on the surrounding skin. For the full guide, see
Warts and verrucas
Warts are small, rough-surfaced 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 resolve spontaneously over months to years, but persistent or symptomatic warts often warrant treatment.
options include cryotherapy, electrocautery, and . The right choice on the size, location, depth and the patient’s of previous . is common with all because the virus can persist in surrounding skin — this is the nature of the condition rather than a failure of .
Dermatofibromas
are firm, benign nodules that most commonly develop 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 develop after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or shaving cut — and persist without .
Dermatofibromas are benign but can be for other by the untrained eye. excision is the only definitive — they don’t respond to topical or freezing. leaves a small linear scar that fades over six to twelve months.
Xanthelasma
Xanthelasma are yellowish, plaques 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 with have abnormal lipid profiles.
at Centre for Surgery uses erbium laser for scarless ablation in most cases, with surgical reserved for larger or deeper lesions. We also recommend lipid screening for any patient presenting with xanthelasma, as of the cosmetic lesion is more when any underlying lipid abnormality is also addressed.
Milia
Milia removal (https://www.sandybeauty.co.uk) are tiny, pearly-white cysts that develop under the surface of the skin, most around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the forehead. They are filled with keratin — the same found in epidermoid cysts — but are much smaller and more . 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 contents. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is . milia can be treated in a single .
Other common lesions
Several other minor skin lesions are 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, prompt professional assessment:
The ABCDE rule — Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter, Evolution — is a useful self-examination prompt for lesions. For full detail, see
How are skin lumps and bumps removed?
Most minor skin lesions are under local as a day-case at our Baker Street clinic. The patient remains awake throughout, the treatment area is fully numbed before any incision is made, and most patients 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 . We the at rather than committing to a single approach in .
Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?
Many practitioners can remove a skin lump — GPs, and aesthetic nurses all perform minor . What sets a plastic apart is the focus on the cosmetic outcome of the removal, not just the removal itself.
surgeons are specifically trained to:
For lesions on visible areas — face, neck, hands, — 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 functional problems. Cosmetic removal — where the lesion appears benign but the patient wishes to have it for reasons or peace of mind — is generally not funded.
NHS dermatology waiting times for suspicious lesion assessment have in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS treatment is unavailable. Patients who want a lump or lesion assessed and removed in a reasonable timeframe will typically need to do so . 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, multiple colours, bleeding or without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these professional .
Pricing on the type, number, size and location of . Most small benign lesions are for a few hundred pounds; more complex cases are priced 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 over six to twelve months. Plastic surgical scarring more than other approaches.
The local 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 initial and the same day where appropriate.
Every specimen at Centre for Surgery is sent for as standard. This applies to all removed tissue regardless of whether the lesion looked benign clinically.
Yes — paediatric cases are assessed and where appropriate. Some lesions benefit from being left to resolve naturally; others are better dealt with surgically. We discuss this carefully at consultation with the parent or guardian.
Most patients are a consultation within one to two weeks. Where a lesion is clinically concerning, we can usually more urgent assessment.
Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone. All are by consultant surgeons under local anaesthetic as day-case procedures. Every excised is sent for histological as . For most benign lesions, and is available — no GP is required.
For more on lesions, see our of in-depth guides on , , , , and our service.
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