Benign Skin Growths

A benign skin growth refers to a lesion that is not precancerous or cancerous. There are a wide variety of benign skin growths. While they often do not affect your overall health, they may become symptomatic or cosmetically bothersome.

Whether your goal is diagnosis or treatment, our board-certified dermatologists can effectively address your concerns regarding benign skin growths.

Keloids 

Keloids are usually firm, raised, discolored scars that extend past the border of the original wound. A dermatologist can help treat your keloid and educate you on how to avoid the development of future keloids. 

Cysts

There are several types of cysts, which tend to present as firm bumps or lumps that occur just below the skin. Often cysts will lie dormant for months or years, but others may become symptomatic, inflamed, or cosmetically bothersome. Your dermatologist can address your specific concerns and remove the cyst if desired.

Lipomas

A lipoma is a benign fatty tumor that occurs just below the skin. Lipomas are most commonly found on the neck, shoulders, back, arms, and thighs and can often be removed by your dermatologist through a simple surgery. 

Skin Tags

Skin tags are small, soft growths usually found in skin folds or around that neck. These lesions do not affect your overall health but can become irritated or cosmetically bothersome. 

Milia 

Milia are most common in infants but can affect patients at any age. Milia are fine asymptomatic cysts that are trapped just below the skin’s surface, causing small white bumps. 

Seborrheic Keratoses

Seborrheic keratoses are overgrowths of skin that typically present as waxy, wart-like growths that are brown, tan, or black in color. These skin lesions are extremely common in older adults and do not affect your overall health. However, they can sometimes become irritated or cosmetically bothersome.

Benign Growth FAQs

What causes benign skin growths?

Many factors may contribute to the emergence of a benign growth on the skin. Benign growths can be attributed to genetics, hormonal changes, sun exposure, or trauma/injury to the skin barrier. Some of these are preventable, but other factors, like genetics, cannot be changed unfortunately.

What do cancerous skin growths look like?

There are many types of skin cancer, but the three most common types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma typically presents as a localized red shiny patch, shiny pink bump, or non-healing sore on the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma typically presents as a firm scaly pink bump on the skin that may be painful to the touch. Melanoma may present as an irregular appearing mole or oddly shaped brown-black patch on the skin. In addition, an actinic keratosis is a type of precancerous skin lesion that typically appears as a localized rough, scaly patch.nnIt is important to identify cancerous skin growths early so that they can be appropriately treated and do not spread or affect your overall health.

What is a benign skin growth and how do you get rid of them?

Benign skin growths are lesions that are not considered precancerous or cancerous. They can be removed if symptomatic or cosmetically bothersome. Removal techniques can include shave removal, snip removal, liquid nitrogen treatment, electrocautery (burning), or excision. If you are interested in removal, our board-certified dermatologists can effectively evaluate and safely treat benign skin growths appropriately.

What are some different types of benign skin growths?

Different types of benign skin growths include but are not limited to the following: rn-tCystsrn-tKeloidsrn-tLipomasrn-tMiliarn-tSeborrheic Keratosesrn-tSkin Tagsrn-tSebaceous hyperplasia (overactive oil glands)

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