Lumps and Bumps: What Are They?

Your skin does more than just hold together your innards. It’s an organ—your body’s largest. And just like your heart, lungs and other organs, it’s important to attend to any problems that arise. 

At the office of Dermatology for the Family, our skilled dermatology professionals are dedicated to providing the highest quality of compassionate care. 

These common conditions can develop. 

Skin tags: They’re small growths of skin with a knob at the end and frequently develop in areas where your skin rubs together, such as your armpits, neck and eyelids. They’re no cause for concern unless you don’t like their appearance or if they are inflamed, cause pain or start to bleed. Don’t excise them yourself! There are several easy ways that a dermatologist can banish them.

Warts. They can pop up just about anywhere. Though they derive from the human papillomavirus, separate strains affect only certain body parts. You can spread them to other people or other areas of your skin by touch. While some warts disappear on their own, a dermatologist can stop their spread. See a skin doctor if a wart bleeds, burns, hurts or shows up on your private parts or face. 

Cysts: These slow-to-develop sacs under your skin are filled in the protein keratin and form when an oil gland or hair follicle is damaged or blocked. Most aren’t cancerous and needn’t be checked out by a dermatologist unless they leak, hurt or swell, or become red or bothersome.

Moles: Most adults have these flat or slightly elevated round spots. They appear in a variety of colors but are typically brown or block. Though usually innocuous, seek medical attention if you see changes in color, shape or size, or the development of uneven edges, bleeding, itching, pain, oozing or rising from your skin. 

Seborrheic keratosis: These rough, thick bumps that might itch appear waxy or scaly and can show up anywhere. They start small, but their widths can expand to more than an inch. If your skin doctor suspects that it may have malignant cells, she (or he) will remove it and send it for a biopsy. 

The office of Dermatology for the Family appreciates that every patient is unique. We’re dedicated to presenting all of your available options and delivering the results you expect. For more information about our many services and to make an appointment, please contact us today!