What are skin lumps and bumps?
Skin lumps and bumps are skin abnormalities that occur on the surface of their skin or inside the skin layers. These may be classified as skin tags, skin warts or skin moles and can be easily removed by one of our dermatologists.
Skin lumps are primarily benign blemishes that are removed for aesthetic reasons. That said, occasionally these lumps and bumps can prove to be a sign of something more dangerous on deeper investigation, and worthy of deeper professional attention.
As such, we always recommend that you do not wait for a skin lump or bump simply to go away, and instead seek professional medical attention. Although skin cancers and melanomas [LINK] are just one group of skin lump and bumps, they can be extremely dangerous if allowed to develop unchecked. Where the health of your skin is concerned, it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Whatever the status of your skin lumps and bumps, our expert dermatologists at the Cadogan Clinic can assess your condition and recommend the best type of treatment to suit your requirements at our state-of-the-art, purpose-built, central London facility in Chelsea.
What are main types of skin lumps and bumps?
Skin lumps and bumps occur all over the body and can be classified as follows:
- Moles
- Skin Tags
- Warts
- Ganglions
- Lipomas
- Cysts
- Skin Cancers and Melanomas
How can you treat skin lumps and bumps?
Skin lumps and bumps are treated by two main techniques
- Excision removal - painless surgical removal under local anaesthetic. The skin lump or skin tag is carefully cut away using a scalpel and completely removed, leaving only a small white or pink scar in its place
- Cryotherapy – locally applied freezing therapy that employs liquid nitrogen gas to freeze the target area. The cold temperature kills the cells within the skin tag, blocking the blood supply to the area and causing it to naturally fall off. Ongoing treatment may be required if the skin tag doesn’t fall off; frequently used for wart and verruca removal
Dermatology Gallery
Skin Lumps and Warts
Benign Dermatofibroma - Persisting asymptomatic nodule. Recommend excision on cosmetic grounds as will never go away spontaneously.
Benign vascular nodule - Developed at site of minimal trauma; needs surgical removal as bleeds easily.
Benign vascular nodule - On face of elderly lady, for surgical removal.
Warty benign basal cell papilloma (seborrhoeic keratosis) - Slowly growing on trunk of 70 year old man; removed by curettage.
Warty benign basal cell papilloma (seborrhoeic keratosis) - Flesh-coloured growth on trunk of 75 year old man
Seborrhoeic warts / keratoses - On a patient
Seborrhoeic warts / keratoses - On a patient
Solar keratoses - Extensive scalp solar keratoses suitable for PDT
Rapidly growing nodule - Below left eye in 70 year old man. Needs excision for cure and for histology to differentiate between a keratoacanthoma and a basal cell cancer
Hand warts - Can be treated with Cryotherapy
Plantar warts - Potentially suitable for cryotherapy
Melanomas
Lentigo maligna - Black discolouration on background brown lentigo on nasal bridge–needs excision to prevent spread.
Melanoma - Melanoma on a patient
Lentigo maligant melanoma - Slowly growing brown stain on cheek of elderly lady
Malignant melanoma - Well demarcated black plaque on sun damaged trunk of 35 year old
Malignant melanoma - Well demarcated black plaque on sun damaged skin
Melanoma - Change in the pigmentation of a previously brown mole
Nodular melanoma - A large pigmented nodule
A nodular melanoma - Enlarging pigmented plaque
Subungual melanoma - Persisting black toenail originally thought due to trauma
A nodular melanoma - Persisting oozing nodule with pigmentation
Amelanotic melanoma - Vascular nodule on the foot
Large malignant melanoma - On upper back of very sundamaged skin
Other Skin Cancers
Basal cell cancer - Slowly growing nodule on sun exposed skin of 68 year old man showing telangiectasia (blood vessels) diagnostic of a basal cell cancer
Multiple cancers - Multiple scaly patches consistent with multiple cancers on sun-exposed neck of elderly woman
Basal cell cancer - Scaly area which never heals on right side of forehead of 72 year old. Need excising to prevent further enlargement.
Basal cell cancer - Slowly growing area on sun damaged facial skin of 35 year old surfer. Basal cell cancer needing Mohs and reconstruction to prevent further growth.
Pigmented basal cell cancer - On sun exposed skin of 72 year old. Could be mistaken for a melanoma due to the black pigment.
Squamous Cell Cancer - Sore ear thought to be infection in 78 year old man but due to a squamous cell cancer
Bowen’s disease on the hand - An early skin cancer
Psoriasis
Psoriasis - Symmetrical well defined erythematous plaques on the knees
Psoriasis - Well demarcated scaly plaques on elbows of a 4 year old
Psoriasis - Scaly itchy scalp with well demarcated edge due to psoriasis
Psoriasis - Well demarcated scaly rash of psoriasis in a child on an unusual location
Small Plaque Psoriasis - Widespread rash with well demarcated pink scaly patches
Psoriasis - Psoriasis on the forehead and scalp
Moles
Large congenital mole - Atypical pigmentation in a child - needs monitoring
Protruding benign mole - Excise on cosmetic grounds
Hair bearing benign flesh coloured facial naevus -
Halo naevus - This is benign and occurs more frequently in patients with vitiligo
Large naevi with irregular pigmentation - Dysplastic naevi which need monitoring /excision to prevent progression
Unusual mole on sole of foot - For dermoscopic monitoring
Halo - Less intense pigmentation surrounding a normal mole
Benign Mole - Benign mole on a patient
Benign Mole - Benign mole on a patient
Acne
Acne Scarring - Acne Scarring
Acne - Acne on a male patient
Acne - Acne on the forehead
Acne - Acne on the cheek
Autoimmune
Alopecia - Alopeca areata
Allergies
Urticaria - Urticaria or hives
Pigmentation
Actinic Lentgines - On the patient's hand
Sun Damage - On the patient's chest
Actinic Lentgines - On the patient's hand
Extensive Actinic Lentigines - Forehead with extensive actinic lentigines sun freckling
Vitiligo - On a patient
Vascular
Vascular Papule - Vascular papule on patients face
Superficial Leg Vessels - Close up of superficial leg vessels amenable to sclerotherapy or laser.
Eczema
Dry Eczematous Skin - Dry eczematous skin on a patient
Flexural Eczema - Flexural eczema on a patients arm
What are the benefits of skin lumps and bumps treatment?
The benefits of treatment for skin lumps and bumps include:
- Quick, effective treatment
- Blemish – free, painless skin
- Minimal or no scarring
- Clothes, jewellery no longer snag or aggravate
- Improved self confidence and self-esteem
What to expect during your skin lumps and bumps consultation at the Cadogan Clinic?
You will meet with one of our highly trained dermatologists at the Cadogan Clinic on Sloane Street, Chelsea for an in-person assessment of your skin.
Your consultant will discuss the following with you at this consultation:
- The best options for treatment for you given your skin lumps and bumps condition, and the results that you would likely achieve with each treatment
- An explanation of the treatment or treatment plan
- Go through your past medical history
- Answer any questions you may have
3 Easy Steps
- Visit the Clinic on Sloane Street, Chelsea for your in-person consultation with one of our dermatologists
- Start your treatment plan
- Return to the Clinic to see your dermatologist - if required - to monitor the progress of treatment
Why choose the Cadogan Clinic for your skin lumps and bumps treatment?
- We treat thousands of skin lumps and bumps cases each year
- Our team of 9 highly experienced specialist dermatologists have been handpicked to form one of the best independent dermatology units in the country
- Our purpose build dermatology clinic is conveniently located off Sloane Square
Frequently Asked Questions
Skin tags are small growths that hang off your skin. They're common and harmless, but can be removed if they're bothering you, purely for cosmetic reasons.
A wart is a small growth with a rough texture that can appear anywhere on the body. It can look like a solid blister or a small cauliflower on the surface of the skin. They are best treated with cryotherapy, or freezing therapy
A cyst is a pouch-like capsule of membranous tissue that contains fluid, air, or other substances. Cysts can grow almost anywhere in your body or under your skin.
There are many different types of cysts. Most cysts are benign, or noncancerous.
A mole is cluster of pigmented skin cells that appear flat or raised on the surface of the skin. Most moles are harmless, but a proportion of them become malignant and develop into dangerous skin cancers.
Are skin lumps and bumps dangerous?
The majority of skin lumps and bumps will be benign and not dangerous at all. That said, depending on what exact type of lump they are, they they can be extremely dangerous if allowed to develop unchecked.
We recommend seeking professional opinion if you have a skin lump or bump on your body. If it is painful, itchy or bleeding, we suggest you do so urgently. It should also be seen urgently, if it is growing and changing size, shape and colour.
Where on my body can I have skin lumps and bumps removed?
Skin lumps, bumps, tags, warts, cysts and moles can be removed from anywhere on the body.
Can I have my skin lumps and bumps removed for cosmetic reasons?
Absolutely. The most common motivation for removing these benign blemishes is cosmetic. It is only in a minority of cases where skin cancer is suspected that they will be removed for medical reasons.
Will excision or cryotherapy be painful?
Surgical excision of skin tags, warts, and moles is not painful as it is performed under local anaesthetic. You should not feel a thing.
Cryotherapy takes between 5 and 10 seconds per treatment, and is usually well tolerated. You should expect to feel a localised sensation of cooling on the surface of your skin.
Will skin lumps and bumps go away on their own?
Once they have formed, skin lumps and bumps are unlikely to go away on their own. If their appearance is bothering you, you will need to seek cosmetic treatment to remove them.
Will skin lumps and bumps return after treatment?
Surgical excision or cryotherapy will permanently remove the skin lump or bump targeted by treatment. It will not prevent new lumps and bumps appearing in new locations on the skin
Our dermatologists and plastic surgeons are experts at managing the scarring process. Whilst there may well be a minor pink or white scar, these will typically fade with time
Recovery time should be instant. You will be able to immediately resume daily activities in most cases.
You may be asked to wear a dressing for a few days, and the site of treatment may be a little tender.
Complications are rare.
Where is the Cadogan Clinic located?
The Cadogan Clinic is based at 120 Sloane Street in Chelsea, just off Sloane Square and the Kings Road.
Our address is 120 Sloane Street, Chelsea, London, SW1X 9BW.
We are accessible by all major bus routes that pass through Sloane Square and Sloane Street, as well as Sloane Square tube station.
Local pay parking is available just around the corner from the Clinic on Cadogan Gate, Cadogan Square and Cadogan Gardens. Our local residential parking zone is the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
How to find us
The Cadogan Clinic is based at 120 Sloane Street in Chelsea, just off Sloane Square and the Kings Road.
We are accessible by all major bus routes that pass through Sloane Square and Sloane Street, as well as Sloane Square tube station.
We are just a 5 minute walk northwards up Sloane Street once you have arrived at Sloane Square.
Local pay parking is available just around the corner from the Clinic on Cadogan Gate, Cadogan Square and Cadogan Gardens. Our local residential parking zone is the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
Address: 120 Sloane Street, Chelsea, London, SW1X 9BW
ENQUIRE NOW
To enquire about a consultation with a Skin Lumps (Warts, Moles, Skin Tags) specialist, please complete the form below.
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