• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Skin lumps

• Overview
• Treatment

Definition:

Skin lumps are any abnormal lump or swelling on the skin.

Considerations:

Many people wonder if small bumps or lumps on the body are something to worry about. The majority of lumps that appear on your body are harmless, especially the kind that feel soft and roll easily (lipomas).

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

Common Causes:

• 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) 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-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 (colored or pigmented spot that bleeds easily, changes size or shape, or crusts and doesn't heal)

• Review Date: 4/16/2007
• Reviewed By: Michael S. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.