Lumps

Lumps under the skin can be extremely worrisome. They can pop out at any place in your body and may feel particularly concerning.

 

However, lumps should not be a cause of concern most of the time. They’re typically benign and will only feel naturally uncomfortable.

 

Here is a quick guide to the possible causes of the lumps you may find in your body.

Lipoma – These lumps are caused by fat collections and are not cancerous at all. Lipomas are rubbery and soft to touch. They can appear on visible body areas like the shoulders and neck. It may also pop out at the back or in any area of the body.

 

Cyst – Cysts are fluid or pus-filled lumps that are typically no larger than the size of a pea. They may appear on the arms, fingers, hands, back, shoulders, and the groin areas. Small cysts usually subside in a few days, but some may need drainage in order to remove pus or fluids inside it.

 

Warts – Warts are contagious lumps made out of keratin. They are rough and hard and can be typically seen on the feet, fingers, hands, face, and genitals. Warts pass around through direct skin-to-skin contact. Genital warts can be passed via sexual contact as well. It takes years to fully be cleared of warts, and treatments may help speed it up a bit.

 

Skin Tag – These are small lumps with stalks. They are usually seen in body places where the skin rubs off against each other, like the breasts, armpits, and buttocks. Skin tags may resemble the physical look of a wart, but they aren’t usually a health concern. Some people have them removed for aesthetic reasons.

 

Swollen Glands – Glands in your body may swell up and cause lumps due to infections and fevers. Nodes in the face, armpits, groin, and neck are the ones who typically get swollen. Conditions such as goitre and mumps may cause swelling of the glands in the neck and face, respectively. The swelling dies down after the underlying infection has been treated.

 

Abscess – These are painful, pus-filled lumps that may either grow underneath the skin or internally on affected organs. Abscesses usually grow on areas such as your mouth and teeth, breasts, perineum, testicles, and anus. Lumps on these areas usually suggest other underlying conditions such as haemorrhoids, mastitis, or cysts. Consult a physician to get an accurate diagnosis for your abscess.

 

When Should You See a Doctor?

 

Consult your physician right away to check what particular kind of lump you’re experiencing right now. Never self-diagnose your lumps, however mild it may seem to be.

 

Immediately seek a doctor’s help if you notice the following symptoms:

 

• Lumps that suddenly enlarged in a short span of time
  
  
• Lumps that become inflamed, reddish, hot, and excessively itchy
  
  
• Hard lumps that cause pain when pressed down
  
  
• A recurring lump in the same spot where it grew before

 

These conditions might signal an infection in your lump, so it’s a sound idea to have the lumps checked by a physician right away.

 

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