Skin Lump

Skin | Dermatology | Skin Lump (Symptom)


Description

Skin lumps are any abnormal bump or swelling on the skin. Many people wonder if small bumps or lumps on the body are something to worry about. Most lumps and swellings are benign (not cancerous) and are harmless, especially the kind that feel soft and roll easily (lipomas).

Causes

A lump or swelling that appears suddenly (over 24 - 48 hours) and is painful and usually caused by an injury or an infection.

Causes of skin lumps may be: lipomas that are fatty lumps under the skin; enlarged lymph glands, usually in the armpits, neck, and groin; cyst, a closed sac in or under the skin that is lined with skin tissue and contains fluid or semisolid material; benign skin growths such as seborrheic keratoses or neurofibromas; boils, painful, red bumps usually involving a hair follicle; corn or callus, caused by skin thickening in response to continued pressure (for example, from shoes) and usually occurring on a toe or foot; warts, a skin virus that develops a rough, hard bump, usually appearing on a hand or foot and often with tiny black dots in the bump; moles, skin-coloured, tan, or brown bumps on the skin; abscess, infected fluid trapped in a closed space from which it cannot escape; cancer of the skin (coloured or pigmented spot that bleeds easily, changes size or shape, or crusts and doesnt heal).

Diagnosis and Treatment

Skin lumps from trauma can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation, but other lumps should be looked at by a doctor.

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