There are many causes of lumps in the body. Lumps can be of varied sizes and so they can be of varied types. Just like their types are different their treatment and prognosis are also different.
People are often confused when they hear the word lump. They often take it as cancerous growth but the fact is that not every lump that one can observe in his lifespan is due to some dangerous cause.
In this blog, we will get to know more about lumps in body. Also, we will be conversing on major types of lumps that one can have and we will also find out possible solutions to treat these lumps.
Table of Contents
Categories of Skin Lumps
Lumps under the skin on a baseline may feel like some elevated growth under the skin or in other cases it may feel like an elevated lesion.
Skin lumps can be divided into 3 major categories:
1- Benign
Benign or the non-cancerous types of skin lumps are the ones that require no immediate treatment at all. And they may recover on their own.
2- Infectious
These lumps however are not life-threatening but they do require the treatment so that they may not spread to different body parts
3- Malignant
If you observe the lumps in the body that keep on changing their place and they are travelling to different positions, in that case, this might indicate a cancerous lump.
Seek medical care immediately in this regard. Reach out to the best oncologist today to get yourself diagnosed for any other possible cause.
Types of Skin Lumps
The different treatment procedures are available but what suits you the best depends on the type of skin lump you have.
So it is important that we must have an idea about different types of lumps under the skin.
1- Skin Tag
It is a soft lump in the body that is of skin colour and it often protrudes out from the skin in a form of a stalk.
These are not skin cancers and most of the time they settle on their own without any proper medical treatments.
These are benign and mostly have their advancement after 40 years of age.
How Are Skin Tags Treated?
These skin tags don’t require any medical care at all and they can be treated on their own.
Location of Skin Tags
Skin tags can be produced anywhere on the body but they are more frequently formed near the neck and armpits.
1- Cysts
Cysts are one of the most common skin lumps.
These cysts are of 2 major types depending on the tissues of skin that are affected.
Epidermoid Cysts
If the cysts are observed deep in the layer they are referred to as epidermoid cysts.
Sebaceous Cysts
The other one is called sebaceous cysts. The one that occurs in the sebaceous gland of the skin.
These types of cysts are more often filled with fluid and pus or other material.
How are Cysts Treated?
Cysts if they are not painful then may require no treatment at all. They will dissolve on their own but if they are painful then the doctors find it more suitable to drain them out.
If cysts are recurring over and over again then they might be removed surgically.
Location of Cysts
The cysts can appear on any body part but they are frequently found on the back of the skin, breast and sometimes inside the body on organs like kidneys and ovaries.
Cysts in the breast may cause extreme disturbance and anxiety, as most people are always landing at only one possibility i.e. breast cancer.
So it is necessary to get yourself updated about breast cancer lumps.
2- Dermatofibroma
Dermatofibromas are small harmless and non-cancerous skin growths.
They are pink or red-brown in colour and their colour may change with the passage of time.
They are hard and small, often called rock-like outgrowths.
They are painless but some people may experience some burning sensation or slight pain in that area.
How are dermatofibromas treated?
In most cases, there is no need to treat dermatofibromas but they can also be excised by surgical methods and they can be flattened by injecting certain medications.
Location of dermatofibromas
These types of lumps in the body can be formed anywhere on your body but they are more frequently observed around arms and legs.
3- Lipoma
These are non-cancerous skin outgrowths that are made up of fatty materials.
It is also called soft tissue sarcoma or tumour. It develops in the fatty layers of your body. But as it is not in your body cells that makes it harmless.
They are slow in their succession and once they form they stay on the body for quite a long time.
They appear soft and have a rubbery consistency.
Causes of Lipoma
There are no definite causes for lipoma as to why they happen but many times they have been linked with genetics.
How are lipomas treated?
There is no need to remove the lipoma as it is not dangerous or painful.
However, if there are some reasons to remove it then the dermatologist may excise it surgically or in other cases, small incisions are made in the skin and the lipoma is then extracted out of the body.
Location of Lipoma
A lipoma or lumps under the skin can grow on the following body parts:
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Legs
- Arms
4- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
The lymph nodes when they become enlarged may give an appearance of outgrowths on the skin.
The lymph nodes are concerned with your body’s defence system as they are containing a type of white blood cells (lymphocytes) in them.
Causes of Enlarged Lymph Nodes
With that being said, lymph nodes can become enlarged if they have an aggregation of white blood cells in them.
Or they can become enlarged if you have done extreme physical activity.
How are Enlarged Lymph Nodes Treated?
They don’t require medical care and enlarged Lymph nodes can settle on their own.
Location of Enlarged Lymph Nodes
There are different sites in the body where they can develop which may include
- Armpit area
- Groin
- Area Below chin
- Around gut region
Diagnosis of Skin Lumps
Lumps in the body and lumps under the skin specifically are noticeable and you may identify them but to distinguish between different types of skin lumps you will need guidance and that can only be provided to you by a dermatologist.
The dermatologist may then suggest a suitable solution depending upon the type of skin lumps you have got.
If the dermatologist finds anything unusual then he can suggest going for a biopsy or in advanced cases he may suggest a CT scan or MRI.
You can get your biopsy or CT scan done from the best laboratory. You can book an appointment from our website and can get authentic results.
Prevention of Skin Lumps
As there are many causes of skin lumps, so are the available prevention methods.
Skin tags are mostly due to a genetic basis so you can’t really help in this regard.
Cysts can be prevented by taking care of your skin. Get your hands on the best face wash available out there and don’t forget to buy sunscreen too.
Also if you have pus or other materials filled up in the cysts then don’t pop them as it may cause an outbreak of many skin infections at other sites of your skin.
The Takeaway
It is essential to know about different types of skin lumps. There should be no second thoughts when it comes to skin lumps. You should get yourself checked by the doctor immediately. Contact the best hospitals to get the best treatment or visit our website healthwire.
