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, 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 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 categories. Each has — feel, depth, surface appearance, location — that an experienced plastic surgeon can usually on alone. is rarely needed for the common benign . Where any doubt exists, surgical removal with histological 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 removal approach we use at Centre for Surgery.
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 . What matters clinically 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 distinguishing benign moles from melanoma, see
At Centre for Surgery, moles are removed by using either shave excision, formal excision, or laser removal — the right on the size, depth, location and features of the mole. Laser mole removal is available for benign raised moles where is not required. Every surgically mole is sent for histological analysis as standard. 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 technically identical. For the precise distinction, see .
An cyst forms when cells become beneath the skin surface, usually at a blocked hair follicle or after minor trauma. The trapped cells continue to produce keratin, which accumulates within a thin capsule, forming the firm, round, mobile lump of the . A small dark spot — the — is often visible on the skin 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 swollen, red, hot, tender lump. requires complete excision of the cyst wall — any portion behind means the cyst will reform, as covered in
One thing patients should never attempt: removing a cyst at home. The reasons — and risks — are covered in
cysts deserve a brief separate 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 fat layer and is enclosed within a thin fibrous capsule. feel soft — often described as doughy or rubbery — and move freely the skin when . The overlying 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 on the shoulders, upper back, neck, upper arms and thighs. Most are solitary, but some patients multiple lipomas (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 procedure. For most patients, excision is the appropriate — see and for and detail. For patients with multiple lipomas, in one session is available. after complete 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 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 patients with type 2 .
Skin tags are painless and harmless, but can catch on clothing or jewellery, become irritated, or be cosmetically bothersome. is — under local anaesthetic with cautery or fine surgical excision. is fast and the cosmetic result is excellent.
Cherry angiomas
Cherry (also called Campbell de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, red or purple bumps caused by tiny clusters of dilated blood vessels near the skin surface. They measure between 1 and 5mm and become more common with age. Most adults will develop at least one by their 40s.
Cherry 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 and produces with minimal mark on the skin. For the full guide, see
Warts and verrucas
Warts are small, rough-surfaced growths caused by infection with the human (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 excision. The right choice on the size, location, depth and the patient’s history of previous . Recurrence is common with all because the underlying virus can in surrounding skin — this is the nature of the 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 characteristic when the skin is . They are thought to develop after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or shaving cut — and indefinitely without treatment.
Dermatofibromas are benign but can be mistaken for other by the 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
Xanthelasma are yellowish, plaques that develop on the eyelids — most commonly on the upper inner aspect of the upper eyelid. They are most often associated with elevated cholesterol levels, though not all patients with xanthelasma have lipid profiles.
at Centre for Surgery uses erbium laser for scarless surface in most cases, with excision reserved for larger or deeper . We also recommend lipid screening for any patient presenting with xanthelasma, as treatment of the lesion is more when any lipid abnormality is also .
Milia
Milia removal (https://www.mountroaddental.co.uk/) 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 found in cysts — but are much smaller and more superficial. Milia are common in newborns (where they usually resolve spontaneously) and in adults, where they tend to .
making a tiny incision in the overlying skin and the contents. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is . Multiple milia can be treated in a single session.
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 . Some, however, prompt 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 under local anaesthetic 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 techniques are used depending on the type and size of the lesion:
The right technique is 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 approach in .
Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?
Many practitioners can technically remove a skin lump — GPs, and aesthetic nurses all minor procedures. What sets a plastic surgeon apart is the focus on the outcome of the removal, not just the 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 clinically suspicious for cancer or that cause documented functional problems. Cosmetic removal — where the lesion appears benign but the patient wishes to have it removed for reasons or peace of mind — is generally not funded.
NHS dermatology waiting times for suspicious lesion have in recent years; for benign cosmetic removal, NHS is essentially unavailable. who want a lump or lesion assessed and removed 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, colours, or itching without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion appearing 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 are for a few hundred pounds; more complex cases are priced individually at . through Chrysalis Finance is available.
Any procedure 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 visible over six to twelve months. technique minimises scarring more than other approaches.
The local injection is the most part of the — usually only briefly. The itself is . Mild soreness for one to two days afterwards is normal and well managed with paracetamol.
Yes for most benign lesions, depending on findings. We discuss this at the initial and proceed the same day where appropriate.
Every excised specimen at Centre for is sent for histological analysis as . This to all removed tissue regardless of whether the lesion looked benign clinically.
Yes — paediatric cases are assessed individually and where appropriate. Some lesions from being left to resolve naturally; others are better dealt with surgically. We discuss this carefully at consultation with the parent or .
Most are offered a within one to two weeks. Where a lesion is concerning, we can usually more urgent assessment.
Centre for is a plastic clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, . All are performed by GMC-registered plastic under local anaesthetic as . Every specimen is sent for histological analysis as standard. For most benign lesions, same-day assessment and is available — no GP is .
For more on specific lesions, see our cluster of guides on , , , , and our broader .
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