Overview

As we age, the smooth skin of childhood gives way to all sorts of mysterious lumps and bumps. In a high-UV environment , we need to be very alert to the possibility of skin cancers. Finding a lump under your skin can be a worrying discovery — but lumps under the skin are more often relatively harmless than cancerous.

What are skin lumps?

Skin lumps are any areas of abnormally raised skin. Lumps under the skin can occur for a variety of reasons as a result of many different processes. Lumps can be caused by clogged glands in the skin, such as cysts, or they can be clumps of fat called lipomas. A number of skin or other conditions can cause bumps  to appear on the surface or just under the skin. The non-worrying lumps have some distinctive features. 

Lumps usually form in areas where skin rubs, such as armpits, groin, buttocks, and breasts. The bumps heal slowly, recur, and can form tunnels under the skin and scarring.

What are the possible causes of skin lumps?

Lumps can be caused by clogged glands in the skin, such as cysts, or they can be clumps of fat called lipomas. Lumps on the skin can also be caused by infections such as viruses (warts and shellfish). 

Cysts appear as soft blisters when they are close to the surface of the skin, but they can look like hard lumps as they develop deeper under the skin. A hard cyst near the surface of the skin usually contains dead cells or trapped proteins. Cysts can form when the normal exchange of skin cells is disrupted.

Lipomas are soft fatty deposits that grow under the skin to form round or oval bumps. Cancers that can be felt externally can appear in the chest, testicles, or neck, and in the arms and legs. Lipoma is a benign fatty tumor that usually does not cause any symptoms.

The sun can cause lumps and on the skin, which can lead to skin cancer. For this reason, areas of the body that are frequently exposed to sunlight, such as the face, ears, neck, scalp, and hands, may be at increased risk of developing skin cancer.

How are lumps diagnosed?

The best way to get a diagnosis for your lumps  is by seeing a dermatologist in person for a consultation so they can take a history and examine your skin directly. The dermatologist will be able to give you a diagnosis and discuss with you any potential treatment options.

What treatments are available for lumps?

If the lump is benign, it may not require any treatment at all. Your doctor may decide to simply monitor it overtime and keep track of any changes.

If the lump is a cyst and has become inflamed or infected, the doctor may drain it or perform a procedure called an intralesional injection. In the case of an intralesional injection, a doctor will inject medicine directly into the lump in order to treat it. A lump can also be removed from under the skin if necessary.

If a doctor is concerned about the lump, doctors may perform a biopsy to look more closely at the cells inside the lump. If the lump is cancer, doctors will devise an appropriate treatment plan. 

Takeaway

Finding a lump under the skin can be frustrating, but a lump under the skin is usually relatively harmless than a cancerous lump. If you are worried about a lump under the skin, do not hesitate to get the test, especially because cancer cannot be diagnosed without a doctor. If any bumps, or lesions on your skin bother you, you should show them to your doctor, but there are some warning signs that should remind you to make an appointment as soon as possible.

DISCLAIMER     

Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice.