What Are Skin Growths?
Skin growths are typically benign lumps of tissue that protrude out from your surrounding skin.
Several types of these benign growths occur on the body that amount to nothing more than cosmetic nuisances, including:
Seborrheic Keratoses
Seborrheic keratoses are common, rough, and waxy growths that typically affect older adults. These spots may resemble skin cancer but in fact are harmless and usually painless, unless jewelry or clothing irritate them.
The cause of seborrheic keratoses is unknown, although the propensity to develop them often runs in families. Unlike many skin ailments, there seems to be no connection with sun exposure.
DPNs
Dermatosis papulosa nigra, or DPNs, are raised or flat dark spots that often occur in clusters on the face and/or neck and often resemble moles or skin tags. They have no known cause and, typically, very little medical impact.
While DPNs can occur on any skin type, they are most common in patients with darker complexions.
Skin Tags
Skin tags are small bulbs of flesh that protrude from the body. Usually found in areas where clothing or jewelry rub against the body, such as around the collar line or underarms, their development is sometimes thought to be related to friction.
True skin tags are always non-cancerous, though some cancerous growths may mimic the appearance of skin tags. Occasionally, a tag may be strangulated, causing discomfort and pain, but typically, skin tags have little impact on a person’s health.
Lipomas
Lipomas are irregular, benign tumors of fat. While they’re typically painless, they can sometimes compress or trap nerves and blood vessels and become tender as they grow.
The size of lipomas varies from just a few millimeters to expansive growths of 10 centimeters or more. Treatment for lipomas is typically surgical excision.
Cysts
Cysts are firm, raised bumps in the skin that can become red and tender, often indicating that they’re ruptured or infected.
The most common kind of cysts contain keratin, a protein made by skin cells, that has become trapped under the skin, accumulating into a capsule and requiring surgical excision for removal.
Skin Growth Treatment
What to Expect
The treatment for your skin growth will depend on the type of growth and other factors.
For example, skin tag removal is usually a cosmetic decision and is treated in the office with destructive methods or sterile snip removal.
However, if you have a painful or swollen cyst — or the cyst ruptures — it may be time to see a dermatologist. Never attempt to puncture or drain a cyst yourself.
At SkinDC, we’ll first conduct a skin exam to diagnose your skin growth so we can recommend a treatment plan that works best for your unique needs.