MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Skin lumps

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Skin lumps

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Considerations Common Causes	Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Illustrations

Warts, multiple - on hands

Lipoma - arm

Warts, flat on the cheek and neck

Wart (verruca) with a cutaneous horn on the toe

Definition Return to top

Any abnormal lump or swelling on the skin.

Considerations Return to top

Most lumps and swellings are benign (not cancer). In general, when a lump or swelling appears suddenly (over 24 to 48 hours) and is painful, it is usually caused by an injury or an infection. On the other hand, if the lump comes on gradually (over several days or weeks) and does not hurt, it may be a tumor.

Common Causes Return to top

lipomas, 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
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) 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-colored, tan, or brown bumps on the skin
abscess, infected fluid trapped in a closed space from which it cannot escape
cancer of the skin (any colored or pigmented spot that bleeds easily, changes size or shape, or crusts and doesn't heal)

Home Care Return to top

Skin lumps from trauma can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Most other lumps should be examined by your physician before any treatment is tried.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

there is any unexplained lump or swelling.

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting your skin lumps in detail may include:

time pattern
- When did you first notice the lump?
location
- Where is the lump?
- Is there more than one?
type
- Is the lump rubbery or capable of changing shape (fluctuant)?
- Does it get scaly, weep, or bleed?
location
- Is it over a joint?
- Is it over the back of the elbow (olecranon)?
- Is it in the back of the heel (Achilles tendon)?
- Is it over a muscle that extends or straightens a joint (extensor surface)?
What other symptoms are also present?

The physical examination will include a detailed examination of the lump(s). If cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be done.

Antibiotics may be prescribed for fighting infection.

Update Date: 10/27/2003

Updated by: Jeffrey Drayer, M.D., Dermatologist, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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