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

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Most adults will a skin lump or bump at some point — and most are entirely benign. Moles, cysts, lipomas, skin tags, cherry angiomas, warts, dermatofibromas, xanthelasma, milia, seborrhoeic 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 professional assessment, what treatment options exist, and where minor lesions sit in the wider 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 . Each has characteristic — feel, depth, surface appearance, — that an plastic can usually identify on clinical examination alone. is rarely needed for the common benign lesions. Where any doubt exists, surgical 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 typical approach we use at Centre for .

Moles

A mole — called a melanocytic naevus — is a benign cluster of pigment-producing 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 review.

Moles come in many forms — flat or raised, brown or skin-coloured, smooth or slightly . What matters clinically is whether they show concerning features such as asymmetry, 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 by using either shave excision, formal surgical excision, or laser — the right depends on the size, depth, and clinical 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 histological 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 technically . For the precise distinction, see .

An epidermoid cyst forms when epidermal cells become beneath the skin surface, usually at a hair follicle or after minor trauma. The trapped cells continue to keratin, which accumulates within a thin fibrous capsule, the firm, round, mobile lump of the condition. 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 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: a cyst at home. The reasons — and risks — are covered in

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

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 rubbery — and move freely beneath the skin when . The overlying skin normal, with no surface like a cyst’s punctum.

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 patients develop (a called lipomatosis).

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

at Centre for Surgery is performed under local anaesthetic as a procedure. For most patients, surgical excision is the appropriate technique — see and for and recovery detail. For with multiple 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 and around the eyes. They are particularly common in middle age, in pregnancy, and in with type 2 diabetes.

Skin tags are painless and harmless, but can catch on or jewellery, become irritated, or be . is — typically performed under local with cautery or fine surgical excision. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is .

Cherry angiomas

Cherry (also called Campbell de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, red or purple bumps caused by tiny of blood vessels near the skin surface. They measure between 1 and 5mm and become more common with age. Most adults will at least one by their 40s.

Cherry angiomas are 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 selectively absorbed by within the vessels and produces with minimal mark on the skin. For the full guide, see

Warts and verrucas

Warts are small, 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 .

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

Dermatofibromas

are firm, benign nodules that most develop on the legs, particularly in women. They are usually small (5–10mm), light brown to reddish-brown, and have a characteristic when the skin is pinched. 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 for other lesions by the untrained eye. excision is the only treatment — they don’t respond to treatment or . Excision leaves a small linear scar that fades over six to twelve months.

Xanthelasma

are yellowish, lipid-rich 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 abnormal lipid .

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

Milia removal

Milia are tiny, 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 (where they usually resolve spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to .

involves making a tiny incision in the skin and the keratin contents. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is excellent. Multiple milia can be treated 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 assessment:

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

How are skin lumps and bumps removed?

Most minor skin lesions are removed under local anaesthetic as a procedure at our Baker Street clinic. The remains awake throughout, the treatment area is fully numbed before any is made, and most patients are able to drive themselves home afterwards. Several techniques are used on the type and size of the lesion:

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

Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?

Many can technically remove a skin lump — GPs, dermatologists and nurses all perform minor . What sets a surgeon apart is the focus on the outcome of the removal, not just the removal itself.

surgeons are specifically trained to:

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

What about the NHS?

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

NHS waiting times for suspicious lesion have in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS is essentially unavailable. Patients who want a lump or lesion assessed and in a timeframe will 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, multiple colours, bleeding or itching without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these warrant .

Pricing depends on the type, number, size and of . Most small benign lesions are for a few hundred pounds; more complex cases are priced individually at . 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. surgical scarring more than other approaches.

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

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

Every specimen at Centre for Surgery is sent for histological analysis as standard. This to all tissue regardless of whether the lesion looked benign .

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

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated plastic surgery clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone. All are performed by GMC-registered plastic under local as procedures. Every excised is sent for histological analysis as . For most benign lesions, same-day assessment and is available — no GP is required.

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

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

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Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering and cosmetic surgery through GMC-registered surgeons. Our spans facial procedures 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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