There are literally hundreds of different kinds of lumps, bumps and cysts associated with the skin. Fortunately, the vast majority of these are harmless and painless. The chart below provides a guide for some of the most common forms of skin lumps, bumps and cysts.

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Dermatofibromas

Characteristics

• Red, brown or purple growth; generally benign

• Usually found on arms and legs

• Feels like a hard lump

• Can be itchy, tender to the touch and sometimes painful

Treatment

• Usually does not require treatment

• Most common removal by surgical excision or cryotherapy (freezing it off with liquid nitrogen)

 

Epidermoid Cysts (Sebaceous Cysts)

Characteristics

• Round small bumps, usually white or yellow

• Forms from blocked oil glands in the skin

• Most commonly appear on the face, back, neck, trunk and genitals

• Usually benign; occasionally leads to basal or squamous cell skin cancers

• If infected, will become red and tender

• Can produce a thick yellow, cheese-like discharge when squeezed

Treatment

• Antibiotics might be prescribed if there is an underlying infection

• Dermatologist removes the discharge and the sac (capsule) that make up the walls of the cyst to prevent recurrence

• Laser surgery may be used for sensitive areas of the skin, like the face

 

Folliculitis

Characteristics

• Red pimples around areas having hair

• Inflammation of the hair follicles

• Caused by infection or chemical or physical irritation (e.g., shaving, fabrics)

• Higher incidence among people with diabetes, the obese or those with compromised immune systems

Treatment

• Topical antibiotics

• Oral antibiotics

• Antifungal medications

• Eliminating the cause

 

Keratoacanthoma

Characteristics

• Red, dome-shaped, thick bumps with craters in the center

• Abnormal growth of hair cells

• Triggered by minor skin injury such as a cut or bug bite

• Ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure is the most common risk factor

Treatment

• Cryotherapy (freezing off the bump with liquid nitrogen

• Curettage (surgically cutting out or scraping off)

 

Keratosis Pilaris

Characteristics

• Small, rough white or red bumps that neither itch nor hurt

• Usually worse during winter months or when there is low humidity and the skin gets dry

Treatment

• Usually does not require treatment

• In most cases disappears on its own by age 30

• Intensive moisturizing is the first line of treatment

• For more difficult cases, use of medicated creams with urea or alpha-hydroxy acids

 

Lipomas

Characteristics

• Soft fatty tissue tumors or nodules below the skin's surface

• Usually slow growing and benign

• Appear most commonly on the trunk, shoulders and neck

• May be single or multiple

• Usually painless unless putting pressure on a nerve

Treatment

• Usually does not require treatment unless it is compressing on the surrounding tissue

• Easy to remove via excision

 

Neurofibromas

Characteristics

• Soft fleshy growths under the skin

• Slow growing and generally benign and painless

• Pain may indicate a need for medical attention

• May experience an electrical shock at the touch

Treatment

• Usually does not require treatment, particularly if it does not cause any symptoms

• If it affects a nerve, it may be removed surgically

 

Skin Cysts

Characteristics

• Closed pockets of tissue that can be filled with fluid or pus

• Can appear anywhere on the skin

• Smooth to the touch; feels like a pea underneath the surface

• Slow growing and generally is painless and benign

• Only needs attention if it becomes infected or inflamed

Treatment

• Usually does not require treatment; often disappears on its own

• May need to be drained by a physician

• Inflamed cysts respond to an injection of cortisone, which causes it to shrivel