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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 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 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 treatment exist, and where minor 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 . Each has — feel, depth, appearance, location — that an plastic surgeon can usually identify on clinical alone. Imaging is rarely needed for the common benign . Where any doubt exists, surgical 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 features, common locations, and the typical 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 . New moles can appear up to around age 40; after this age, any new lesion warrants 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, 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 on the size, depth, location and clinical of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for benign raised moles where is not required. Every 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 cyst — widely referred to as a "sebaceous cyst", though the two terms are not . For the precise distinction, see .

An cyst forms when epidermal cells become beneath the skin surface, usually at a hair or after minor trauma. The trapped cells continue to produce keratin, which accumulates within a thin fibrous capsule, the firm, round, mobile lump characteristic 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 painless but can become acutely if the wall breaks down, 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: removing a cyst at home. The — and risks — are covered in

Earlobe cysts a brief mention as they are particularly common in patients 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 subcutaneous fat layer and is enclosed within a thin capsule. feel distinctly soft — often described as doughy or — and move freely the skin when pressed. The overlying skin 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 develop multiple lipomas (a called lipomatosis).

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 under local as a procedure. For most patients, surgical excision is the appropriate — see and for and detail. For patients with multiple lipomas, in one session 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 in skin folds — the neck, armpits, groin, under the 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 clothing or jewellery, become irritated, or be . is straightforward — typically under local anaesthetic 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 clusters 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 selectively 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 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 treatment.

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

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

Xanthelasma

are yellowish, plaques that 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 surface ablation in most cases, with surgical reserved for larger or deeper lesions. We also lipid screening for any presenting with xanthelasma, as of the cosmetic lesion is more when any underlying lipid abnormality is also addressed.

Milia

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

making a tiny in the skin and the keratin contents. is fast and the result is . Multiple 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 symptoms. Some, however, warrant 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 removed under local as a procedure at our Baker Street clinic. The patient remains awake throughout, the 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 clinical objective. We discuss the options at consultation rather than committing to a single approach in .

Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?

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

Plastic are specifically trained to:

For lesions on visible areas — face, neck, hands, decolletage — 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 appears benign but the patient wishes to have it for aesthetic reasons 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 and in a will typically 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, bleeding or without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion appearing for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these professional assessment.

on the type, number, size and location of . Most small benign lesions are removed for a few hundred pounds; more cases are priced individually at consultation. through 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. scarring more than other approaches.

The local anaesthetic is the most part of the — 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 . We discuss this at the initial appointment and proceed the same day where appropriate.

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

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

Most patients are a within one to two weeks. Where a lesion is concerning, we can usually more urgent assessment.

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

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

Centre for Surgery · CQC-regulated · GMC surgeons · · · ·

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

Centre for is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s iconic , and led by GMC-registered .

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