Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentDiagnosisWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Diagnosis
When to Seek Care
Bumps on the skin describe any abnormal raised areas, including lumps and swelling. Their causes can lead to different symptoms and treatments.
Most skin bumps arebenign(noncancerous) and not a cause for concern. Some are temporary and will go away on their own, while others are permanent but harmless. In rare cases, bumps on the skin can be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as infection orskin cancer.
Boy_Anupong / Getty Images
Bumps on the skin vary widely in texture, appearance, color, shape, and size. Depending on what’s causing the bump, it may:
Some bumps on the skin are always visible, while others may appear suddenly (i.e., in a matter of hours or days). Many skin bumps are always the same size; others get bigger over time.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Bumps can appear on the skin for many reasons. Common causes include:
Keratosis PilarisPeople withkeratosis pilarishave many rough, dry bumps concentrated in certain areas of the skin, especially the thighs andupper arms. It is not contagious and does not require treatment, apart from concerns over appearance. Children and teens are more likely to develop this condition than are adults.
Keratosis Pilaris
People withkeratosis pilarishave many rough, dry bumps concentrated in certain areas of the skin, especially the thighs andupper arms. It is not contagious and does not require treatment, apart from concerns over appearance. Children and teens are more likely to develop this condition than are adults.
Signs of skin cancer include:
7 Rare Skin Diseases
Many common skin bumps are harmless and don’t require any treatment. For others, treatment will depend on the cause. Treatment for bumps on skin can include:
A board-certifieddermatologist(skin doctor) or other healthcare provider can discuss treatment options with you.
In many cases, you’ll be able to determine the cause of a bump on your skin on your own. A dermatologist can often diagnose bumps on skin with a visual examination, but they may:
If an infection or skin cancer is suspected, your healthcare provider may need to perform imaging tests or abiopsy. In a biopsy, a sample of your skin cells will be removed and sent off to a lab for further testing.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should also seek medical help if you think your skin bumps may be related to an infection. These bumps may be swollen, painful, red, and/or hot to the touch. They tend to develop within 24 to 48 hours.
Anaphylaxis and Immediate Care
Summary
Many different kinds of bumps can appear on the skin, including acne, warts, skin tags, and moles. Some causes of skin bumps also include bacterial and viral infections. Rarely, skin bumps may be precancerous or cancerous.
Most of the time, bumps on the skin are no cause for concern and can be treated at home. Let yourdermatologistknow if you notice any new bumps or bumps that have changed in shape or size. Antibiotics can treat many bumps related to infections, while surgery is usually recommended in the case of skin cancer.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Skin lumps.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Skin tags.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What are those bumps on my child’s skin?U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) Basics.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: overview.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How can I tell if I have skin cancer?American Academy of Dermatology Association.5 reasons to see a dermatologist for mole, skin tag removal.National Health Service.Non-melanoma skin cancer - treatment.American Academy of Family Physicians.Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors.MedlinePlus.Anaphylaxis.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Skin lumps.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Skin tags.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What are those bumps on my child’s skin?U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) Basics.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: overview.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How can I tell if I have skin cancer?American Academy of Dermatology Association.5 reasons to see a dermatologist for mole, skin tag removal.National Health Service.Non-melanoma skin cancer - treatment.American Academy of Family Physicians.Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors.MedlinePlus.Anaphylaxis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Skin lumps.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Skin tags.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What are those bumps on my child’s skin?U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) Basics.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: overview.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How can I tell if I have skin cancer?American Academy of Dermatology Association.5 reasons to see a dermatologist for mole, skin tag removal.National Health Service.Non-melanoma skin cancer - treatment.American Academy of Family Physicians.Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors.MedlinePlus.Anaphylaxis.
MedlinePlus.Skin lumps.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: signs and symptoms.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Skin tags.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What are those bumps on my child’s skin?
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) Basics.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: overview.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How can I tell if I have skin cancer?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.5 reasons to see a dermatologist for mole, skin tag removal.
National Health Service.Non-melanoma skin cancer - treatment.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Diagnosing Common Benign Skin Tumors.
MedlinePlus.Anaphylaxis.
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