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 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 professional assessment, what treatment exist, and where minor lesions 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 distinct categories. Each has characteristic features — feel, depth, surface appearance, location — that an experienced plastic surgeon can usually on clinical examination alone. Imaging is rarely needed for the common benign lesions. 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 typical removal approach we use at Centre for Surgery.
Moles
A mole — medically 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 pigmented lesion warrants 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 distinguishing 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 removal 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 epidermoid cyst — widely referred to as a “sebaceous cyst”, though the two terms are not technically identical. For the precise 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 trapped cells continue to keratin, which accumulates within a thin fibrous capsule, forming the firm, round, mobile lump characteristic of the . 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 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 reasons — and risks — are covered in
Earlobe cysts deserve a brief separate mention as they are particularly common in patients who have had ear — see for the specific treatment approach.
Lipomas
A lipoma is a benign, slow-growing tumour made up of mature fat cells. It develops within the subcutaneous fat layer and is enclosed within a thin fibrous capsule. Lipomas feel distinctly soft — often described as doughy or rubbery — and move freely beneath the skin when pressed. The overlying skin appears normal, with no surface 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 (a condition called lipomatosis).
Telling 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 performed under local anaesthetic as a . For most patients, surgical excision is the appropriate technique — see and for procedure and recovery 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 growths 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 breasts and around the eyes. They are particularly common in middle age, in pregnancy, and in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Skin tags are painless and harmless, but can catch on clothing or jewellery, become irritated, or be cosmetically bothersome. is straightforward — typically performed under local anaesthetic with cautery or fine surgical excision. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is excellent.
Cherry angiomas
Cherry angiomas (also called Campbell de Morgan spots or red moles) are small, dome-shaped red or purple bumps caused by tiny clusters of dilated blood vessels near the skin surface. They typically measure between 1 and 5mm and become more common with age. Most adults will develop at least one by their 40s.
Cherry angiomas are but can catch on clothing, bleed after shaving, or cause cosmetic concern. at Centre for Surgery uses long-pulse Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm — the wavelength is selectively absorbed by haemoglobin within the vessels and produces clearance 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 develop almost anywhere but are most common on the hands, feet (where they are called verrucas), and around The Perfect Peel and Superblend nails. Many resolve spontaneously over months to years, but persistent or warts often warrant treatment.
options include cryotherapy, electrocautery, and surgical excision. The right choice depends on the size, location, depth and the patient’s history of previous treatment. Recurrence is common with all techniques 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 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 characteristic dimpled appearance when the surrounding skin is . They are thought to develop after a minor injury — sometimes an insect bite or shaving cut — and persist indefinitely without treatment.
Dermatofibromas are benign but can be mistaken for other lesions by the untrained eye. Surgical excision is the only definitive treatment — they don’t respond to topical or freezing. Excision leaves a small linear scar that fades over six to twelve months.
Xanthelasma
Xanthelasma are yellowish, lipid-rich 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 abnormal lipid profiles.
at Centre for Surgery uses erbium laser for scarless surface ablation in most cases, with surgical excision reserved for larger or deeper lesions. We also recommend lipid screening for any patient with xanthelasma, as treatment of the cosmetic lesion is more durable when any lipid abnormality is also addressed.
Milia
Milia are tiny, pearly-white cysts that develop under the surface of the skin, most commonly around the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the forehead. They are filled with keratin — the same protein found in epidermoid 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 persist.
involves making a tiny incision in the overlying skin and extracting the keratin contents. Healing is fast and the cosmetic result is excellent. Multiple milia can be treated in a single session.
Other common lesions
Several other minor skin lesions 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 symptoms. Some, however, warrant prompt professional assessment:
The ABCDE rule — Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter, Evolution — is a useful self-examination 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 day-case 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 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 advance.
Why choose a plastic surgeon for skin lesion removal?
Many practitioners can technically remove a skin lump — GPs, dermatologists and aesthetic nurses all perform minor procedures. What sets a plastic apart is the focus on the of the removal, not just the removal itself.
Plastic surgeons are specifically trained to:
For lesions on visible 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 . 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. Patients who want a lump or lesion and removed in a reasonable timeframe 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, borders, multiple colours, or without obvious cause, a hard texture, or any lesion appearing for the first time after the age of 40. Any of these warrant professional assessment.
Pricing depends on the type, number, size and location of . Most small benign lesions are removed for a few hundred pounds; more complex cases are priced individually at consultation. through Chrysalis Finance is available.
Any procedure 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. Plastic surgical technique minimises scarring more than other approaches.
The local anaesthetic 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 managed with paracetamol.
Yes for most benign lesions, depending on findings. We discuss this at the initial appointment and proceed the same day where appropriate.
Every surgically specimen at Centre for Surgery is sent for histological analysis as . This applies to all removed tissue regardless of whether the lesion looked benign clinically.
Yes — paediatric cases are assessed individually and treated where appropriate. Some 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 offered a consultation within one to two weeks. Where a lesion is 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 consultant plastic surgeons under local anaesthetic as day-case procedures. Every excised specimen is sent for histological analysis as standard. For most benign lesions, same-day assessment and removal is available — no GP referral is required.
For more on specific lesions, see our cluster of in-depth guides on , , , , and our broader service.
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Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and cosmetic surgery through GMC-registered specialist surgeons. Our expertise spans facial procedures including and , , for men, and body contouring procedures such as and . Patient safety, surgical excellence and natural-looking sit at the heart of everything we do.
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