Bumps and lumps on your skin occur often. Some may be cause to worry while others are innocuous. They appear as swellings under the skin or look like they sprouted from the top of the skin. Bumps can be itchy, painful, hairy, solid, full of fluid, round, irregularly shaped, clustered, and grow fast or slow. They can be signs of a disease, an allergic reaction, a bite, growth, cyst, abscess, or acne.
Common types of bumps
1. Cysts
Epidermal cysts most frequently appear on the face or back. They feel like solid bumps and can look like an extra growth of hair. Some feel like a marble and look yellowish. When exposed, they can become infected or inflamed. In addition, they can act like a boil and can grow red, tender, and filled with fluid. There are home remedies to deal with them but you may need to see a doctor if they don’t clear after a while.
Cysts are usually filled with keratin and form when a hair follicle or oil gland is blocked. They clear by themselves but you should see a doctor if they are red, painful, and leaking all the time.
2. Lipoma
This is a fatty lump that appears in the shoulders or upper body. They grow slowly and are genetic. They can get uncomfortable if they are in contact with nerves. Lipomas are treated with liposuction, surgical excision, or dissolving using deoxycholic acid.
3. Cherry angioma
These are smooth red bumps that grow from blood vessels on the skin’s surface. They can be as small as a pinprick and as large as a coin. They’re not painful but they can be itchy.
4. Keloids
This is when scar tissue continues to form on a wound. They can be itchy and ugly but they aren’t painful unless the injury is agitated. They are more common in darker-skinned people. Avoid poking them and leave them alone as they heal. When they’re too uncomfortable to live with, they can be surgically removed.
5. Sarcoma
This is a cancerous tumour that looks like a cyst. It feels firm under the skin. You should seek medical attention if it’s painful, even when not agitated.
6. Skin tags
These are growths of skin that bulge at a wrinkle or where the skin rubs together frequently, including the groin, pits, or neck. You should see a doctor if they are red, painful, or bleeding.
7. Eczema
Atopic dermatitis or eczema causes small skin bumps that may leak fluid. Eczema has different causes from genetics to allergies. Doctors treat the inflammation with creams and pills. Different Types Of Eczema And Treatment Or Management
8. Warts
These are bumps caused by infections such as HPV. Different strains affect different body parts such as feet, the groin, and hands. You should see a doctor for warts that spread, itch, bleed, or appear on the face and genitals.
9. Moles
These occur when skin cells grow in a cluster. They are caused by a disorder within melanocytes which are the cells that produce melanin. Moles are mostly benign. However, you should see a doctor if the moles are itching, bleeding, inflamed or painful. Some moles can be cancerous such as melanoma, which is caused by exposure to UV rays. Such moles are multicoloured, larger than the size of a pea, and increase in size. Melasma (Dark Patches On The Skin): Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Home Remedies And Prevention
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10. Folliculitis
This is when inflammation happens after shaving. Short hairs are trapped within the skin which can lead to breakouts and infection. Hair follicles where hair appears such as your chin, pubic area, armpits, thighs or neck can get bacterial infections leading to folliculitis. They appear as small red or dark brown bumps and pimples. They can lead to blisters, sores, and tender skin. In addition, they can be treated by cleaning them with a clean cloth, antibiotics, or antibacterial soap. Folliculitis barbae is an infection, and these aren’t to be confused with razor bumps which are bumpy inflammation from shaving. Skincare: 7 Tips To Avoid Getting Razor Bumps
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11. Cherry hemangioma
These are small, bright red bumps that appear on the skin when you reach your 30s and 40s. They’re harmless. You should seek medical treatment if they change colour, bleed or grow bigger.
12. Keratosis pilaris
This happens when keratin blocks the hair follicles on the upper arms, buttocks, or thighs. They are small rough bumps that look pointed and make your skin feel like sandpaper. They don’t hurt but may itch. It goes away on its own. However, it can be reduced through exfoliation or skin creams.
13. Seborrheic keratosis
These are large, scaly, waxy bumps that appear anywhere on the skin. They look like very rough moles but have a hard texture. They aren’t contagious but are painless and can grow larger. However, if they start changing colour or bleeding, seek medical treatment.
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14. Breast lumps
Breast lumps can be benign and cancerous. Benign breast lumps can happen due to cysts and fibroadenomas. Other causes of breast lumps include fat necrosis, and sclerosing adenosis. Fat necrosis is the death of fat tissue because of injury and blood supply loss. Sclerosing adenosis are small firm tender nodules in the breast and is a normal part of the ageing process. It is the extra growth of tissue in the milk-producing glands and breast milk ducts.
Another cause of breast lumps is an abscess. This is a pocket of pus caused by inflammation and soreness in the breast. Symptoms include fever and exhaustion. Cysts can also occur in the breasts. They’re common among women aged between 35 and 50 and occur more frequently for those approaching menopause. They can feel like a large blister near the surface of the skin but feel like solid lumps when found lower. Breast lumps can also be caused by blocked milk ducts. Parenting: Things That Affect The Taste Of Breast Milk
A breast cancer lump is usually hard, angular, or irregular, and it’s never smooth. Breast cancer lumps are closer to the surface skin. Most breast cancer tumours are also only detectable with a mammogram.
You should see a doctor if the lump is fixed in place. If it changes location or feels different when you push it around, lay down, or raise your arm, it’s less likely to be a tumour. If the lumps or bumps feel new, bring it up with your doctor. It’s important to do a breast self-examination at least once a month. This is especially important for all women and men who have a history of breast cancer in their families. Health: How To Know If You’re At Risk Of Developing Breast Cancer
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When should you see a doctor?
You should see a doctor immediately if you see any lumps appearing near your lymph nodes. These are part of your immune system and are found in the arm pits, groin and neck. Lymph nodes can swell because of a simple common cold. However, they can also be a sign of more serious conditions such as cancer. If you have swollen nodes and experience other symptoms such as rapid weight loss, fever, and chills, see a doctor immediately.
The skin can be a great way to determine your general health. Itchy, rapidly spreading, irritated, or bleeding lumps or bumps can be a symptom of something else. Always make sure you point them out to your doctor during a check especially if the bumps keep changing their behaviour. Dermatologists can also diagnose bumps and lumps as soon as they see them. If you have sudden bumps that you’re sure aren’t bug bites or bruises, err on the side of caution and get them examined.
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