Noncancerous or benign skin growths may be flat or raised, colored or flesh-colored and may be caused by viruses, genetics and environmental factors. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Pantea Hashemi provides treatment for all skin growths. If you are concerned about a skin growth, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation. Below are some of the most commonly occurring lesions.
Cherry Angiomas
Cherry angiomas are benign overgrowths of capillaries (small blood vessels). They typically affect people over the age of 30 and multiply with age. They are bright red flat or slightly raised and commonly found on the trunk, extremities, face, chest and neck. They are harmless and cause no symptoms but can bleed if picked.
Cysts
Skin cysts are fluid-filled lumps under the skin which are usually yellow or white with a small dark spot in the middle. Many cysts cause no symptoms and may even go away on their own and reoccur. Treatment usually involves surgical draining of the cyst or surgical removal of the cyst.
Dermatofibroma
These small, pink, dull red or brown growths- sometimes with a whitish scar in the center- often appear after an insect bite, pimple, or other minor skin injury. They often look like a mole or scar. Dermatofibromas may feel firm, yet they pucker or dimple when pinched. These occur most often on the legs though they can occur anywhere on the body.
Epidermoid cysts
These are firm, flesh-colored nodules in the top layer of skin that appear on the face, neck and trunk of young and middle-aged people. They are filled with dead skin cells. They usually cause no symptoms, unless they become inflamed. The cause is not known, but they tend to run in families and can be caused by trauma, or a blocked pore and when inflamed they can look like a pimple.
Milia
Milia are small white and yellow cystic growths on the face. They are asymptomatic but can be a cosmetic nuisance. In older children and adults, they can develop from occlusive products as well as acne, sun damage, and an accumulation of dead skin cells.
Moles (Nevi)
Moles are usually round, flat or slightly raised brown-colored skin, but can be tan, red, black, pink, blue or colorless. Some moles can have hair, and some can disappear on their own. Moles can develop anywhere on the body, even under the fingernails, between the fingers and toes, and on the scalp.
Moles should look the same from month to month and appear somewhat uniform in color. However, if a mole is changing, itching, or bleeding, it is important to see your dermatologist. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can develop from a pre-existing mole or arise completely on its own. Atypical (dysplastic) moles are larger than a pencil eraser, have an odd shape and show more than one color. Atypical moles can be confused with melanoma. When a person has four or more atypical moles, a previous melanoma, and a relative with melanoma, they are at higher risk for developing a melanoma. However, most moles never turn into melanoma.
Your dermatologist may perform a skin biopsy of a new or changing mole. The mole is sent to a laboratory to determine if it is a skin cancer. Moles also can be removed if they become irritated or if you are uncomfortable with the appearance of a mole on your skin.
Pilar cysts
Pilar cysts are a type of epidermoid cyst that forms in the hair follicles and is usually found on the scalp. They are more common in women and have a genetic component.
Sebaceous cysts
These are fluid-filled movable cysts or lumps found on the ears, neck, face, scalp and upper body that arise in the sebaceous (oil) glands. These cysts are filled with sebum (a yellow oily material produced by the sebaceous glands to keep the skin and hair moisturized and protect the skin from infections.) They can block the gland and grow. In that case, they can be punctured to release the trapped sebum, and treated with antibiotics.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia (SH)
Sebaceous Hyperplasia are small shiny, flesh-colored to yellow bumps. They are caused by trapped sebum (oil) and dead skin cells inside enlarged oil glands, typically on the face, forehead and nose. They are common in people with fair skin, and are linked with high testosterone, sun exposure and genetics.
Seborrheic Keratosis (SK)
Seborrheic keratoses are common benign skin growth that affect people older than 30. They are often found in groups but can occur as a single growth. Most people will develop at least one during their lives.
SKs are flat or only slightly raised, tan, black or brown growths with a rough texture that looks “pasted on” the face, chest, shoulders and back. They may itch. Picking at them can cause bleeding, swelling and infection. SKs tends to run in families.
Warts
Warts are common skin colored bumps on the skin or mucous membranes which are caused by human papilloma virus serotypes. They grow most often on the fingers, around the nails and on the back of hands. Warts often go away without treatment. This is especially true in children. In adult, warts may not disappear as easily or as quickly as they do in children; The treatment depends on the patients’ age, overall health as wells as the type of the virus.
The most common treatments are cryotherapy, electrosurgery and curettage, excision, leaser treatment, chemical peels, immunotherapy, and superficial injection. You can get some OTC remedies without a prescription and treat the wart yourself at home. Contact your dermatologist if you are having a resistant wart, suspicion that growth is not a wart, lesion that hurts, burns, or bleeds or a weak immune system.
Skin tags are flesh-colored to brown soft growths on a stalk, usually found on the neck, under the arms and in the groin. They are harmless but can become irritated by clothing and jewelry.
Most skin growths are harmless and cause no symptoms. If a skin growth causes symptoms, it’s time to consult your dermatologist. It is important to see an expert to differentiate moles from melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. When you are concerned about a skin growth contact Dr. Pantea Hashemi at University Skin Institute in Sacramento California. Schedule a consultation and receive the correct diagnosis and treatment.