Raised Bumps on Skin

Raised Skin Bumps are very common and in major cases, they are not harmful. It occurs due to various conditions that consist of infections, reactions due to allergies, disorders of the skin and skin cancer.

The quantity and appearance vary as per the cause of raised skin bumps. The color could be similar to skin color or different. They could result in itching, either are big or tiny. Few could be hard while few could be soft and “movable.” The overlying skin might cause redness or forms ulcers.

What is Raised Skin Bumps?

Treatment might not be required for the major of the skin bumps. But if there is a pain that is occurring due to the skin bumps, do talk to the physician for the same. Also if there is a variation in terms of the skin bumps, do talk to the physician.

A localized part that is swollen on or below the skin are termed as lumps or bumps. The bumps or lumps occur as a result of skin rashes and other conditions occur as a result of “solitary raised lumps on the skin.” They could also occur on or under the skin as a result of infections, tumors, the way the body reacts to trauma or any kind of injury or harm to the body

Causes & Types of Skin Bumps

Acne (Pimples)

These majorly occur on face, neck, shoulders, chest and upper area of the back.
As per the American Academy of Dermatology, Acne is a major condition of skin seen in the US.
These lead to skin bumps that are tiny and not painful to big and causes pain. The bumps also result in redness and “swelling
These are break-outs that appear on the skin which consist of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or deep and full of painful cysts and nodules.
If not treated, it could cause skin darkening or scars on the skin.

Cold Sore

There are red blisters, filled with fluids that occur close to the mouth and lips.
The areas that are affected would often cause tingling or burning sensations before there is visibility of the sore.
Along with these breakouts, there would be flu-kind of symptoms like fever, aches in the body and lymph nodes that are swollen.

Corns and Calluses

These are circles that are round and tiny, of thick skin. They cause a lot of pain, “horn-like central area of hardened tissues.”
These occur majorly on the “top or sides of the toe and the soles of the feet.”
These are a caused due to rubbing or force.

Skin Tags

These are tiny skin growths that have a protrusion or bump at the end.
The growth of skin increases to half an inch in size.
The color is the same or could even be slightly dark.
Majorly occurs as a result of rubbing i.e. friction.
Majorly occurs close to neck, armpits, breasts, groin, stomach and eye-lids.

Nodules

It occurs as a result of tissues that are abnormal and majorly occur in parts like armpits, groin, head and neck region.
The growth occurs from tiny to medium size. It is full of “tissues, liquid or both.”
It is normally bigger in terms of width than a pimple. It also looks hard, “smooth elevation under the skin.”
It normally does not cause any harm but causes some mild pain it is pushed against other “structures” or composition.
These could be situated in the body, deep within, where it cannot be felt or seen.

Impetigo

It is a skin infection caused by bacteria. These are highly infectious and transmittable.
These are majorly found in kids i.e. children.
There is the formation of rashes that are located majorly near the “mouth, chin and nose.”
Rashes are quite disturbing. Blisters are full of fluids or liquids that “pop easily and forms a honey-colored crust.”

Molluscum Contagiosum

They occur together in numbers of up-till 20.
They are tiny, shiny and smooth.
The color is fresh and either pink or white.
They are hard and shape of a dome with a slight dip or dimple in the center.

Lipomas

It is a mass or bunch of fatty tissues beneath the skin and is normally not painful.
They are quite tender and is easily movable if touched or poked with the finger.
It is tiny, situated beneath the skin.
Color is pale or colorless.
It is majorly found near the neck, back or shoulders.
If it extends to the nerves, it causes a lot of pain.

Cyst

These are tiny, sacs that are flesh-colored below the skin full of keratin i.e. a tender cheese like protein. This occurs as a result of damage or blockage of the hair follicle or oil gland which forms the gradually occurring bumps.
It is a bump that grows slowly which is present beneath the skin and the surface is smooth.
It could be tiny or big and does not cause much pain.
Until any kind of infections, it would not cause any problems or issues. It is very big and growth is in sensitive areas.
Growth of certain cysts occurs deep within the body, which cannot be felt or seen.
Most of the cysts are not cancerous and might not require to be treated. But if they get painful or swollen, it is important to consult a physician.

Wart

This is a result of various kinds of viruses termed as human papillomavirus (HPV).
They are situated on the “skin or mucous membranes.”
They are either found single or together.
They are also transmissible or infectious and can be transferred to others.

Actinic Keratosis

The size is smaller than 2 cm or similar to the size of a “pencil eraser.”
The patch on the skin appears as “thick, scaly or crusty.”
It majorly occurs in those areas of the body that are exposed to the sun i.e. hands, arms, face, scalp and neck.”
The color is normally pink but the base could be brown, tan or gray.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

It is a type of cancer that harms the skin’s top layer.
It depicts a scar that is elevated or lifted, hard and areas are pale.
It is of the shape of a dome, pink or red, the areas are pearly that has a center which is sunken like a crater.
The blood vessels are visible on the growth.
The wound gets hurt easily and bleeds, which takes time to heal or heals but then occurs again.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

It is a kind of cancer of the skin that starts in the squamous cells. These cells form the “outer-most layer of the skin.”
These majorly occur in parts, with exposure to UV radiation like the face, ears, and back of the hands.
There is a patch of scales and red skin that further moves to form a raised skin bump and continue to grow.
The bleeding occurs easily and is difficult to heal or heals but then occurs again.

Melanoma

This is a very critical form of cancer for the skin. It is more commonly found in fair people.
It starts with an atypical mole. Moles that cause cancer are not symmetrical, too many colors, big or huge and borders are not regular.
Moles are present anywhere in the body, which is not shaped properly from edges, the shape is asymmetrical and colors are multiple.
In this case, there is a change in color or gets big over time i.e. Mole
It is bigger than the “pencil eraser.”

Boils

There is an infection caused due to bacteria or fungus of a “hair follicle or oil gland.”
It occurs at any place through-out the body but majorly found on the face, neck, armpit, and buttock.
The bump is red and causes lots of pain, with the middle being white or yellow.
It breaks and the fluid or liquid spills out.

Bullae

It is a blister consisting of transparent, water-based, and filled with fluids or liquids.
The size of bullae is more than 1 cm.
It could occur as a result of rubbing or “friction, contact dermatitis, and other skin issues.”
There could be an occurrence of infection if the transparent fluid turns into a milky one.
It could also be a result of dermatitis and chickenpox.

Contact Dermatitis

Once it comes in touch with an allergen, it appears after many hours or days.
When the skin touches the substance that irritates, it results in rashes that have visible borders.
Skin causes itching, redness, scaly and raw.
Blisters become “weep, oozy and crusty.”

Cherry Angioma

These are small, bright spots that are red in color or “bumps on the skin” and are not harmful.
Skin growth would be seen in any place on the body, but majorly seen on the torso, arms, legs and shoulders.
Majorly seen in individuals between the age of 30’s and ’40s and increases with age.
There are spots which are tiny, bright, red circle-shaped that would be elevated or is smooth. When rubbed or scratched, it would result in bleeding.
It is normally not harmful but also requires to be removed if it is present in an area that causes problems or issues. Also if the color changes to dark brown or black, inform the physician to prevent cancer of the skin.

Keloids

When there is a harm to the skin, fibrous tissues termed as scar tissue occurs on the wound for repairing and protecting the “injury.” In few cases, excess growth of scar tissue occurs that forms “smooth and hard growths” called keloids.
They are bigger than the original wound.
They majorly occur on the chest, shoulders, earlobes and cheeks. It could occur anywhere on the body.
At before a place of injury, symptoms occur. They do not cause any harm. If they do not cause any irritation, just avoid them. But if it is causing any itching sensations or is big enough, do get it treated or removed.
It could because of pain or itching, if the part of skin gets hard, stiff and uneven.
That part or area becomes flesh-colored, pink or red.

Keratosis Pilaris

It is a condition of the skin that is caused by an “overgrowth of protein” termed as keratin.
It is a common condition of the skin that is majorly seen in arms, legs but also is seen on the face, buttocks, and trunk.
This goes away by itself until the age of 30 years.
The skin is in a patch form that occurs bumpy, red in color and uneven.
In dry weather gets worse.

Seborrheic Keratoses

It is majorly seen in the elderly, where there is growth of the skin that is harmless.
It could be present at any place on the body, excluding on palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The growth is round, oval and the color is dark with the appearance of a “stuck-on.”
It feels like wax which is elevated and bumpy.

Chicken Pox

“It is a common childhood virus.”
It has a bunch or mass of blisters that are itchy, red and full of fluids or liquids on the entire body.
There would be rashes along with fever, pain in the body, soreness of the throat, appetite reduces.
It is infectious or transmittable, till the entire blister have “crusted over.”

MSRA (Staph) Infection

This condition requires an immediate medical emergency.
In this case, the infection is caused by a kind of Staphylococcus or staph, bacteria that cause resistance to various antibiotics.
While entering into the skin through a cut or a scratch, it results in infection.
The infection of the skin appears like a bite from a spider which causes pain, pimple that is red or purple that results in drainage of the pus.
Strong forms of antibiotics are required for the treatment and could result in harmful situations like cellulitis (bacterial infection) or infection of the blood.

Scabies

It is an infection that occurs from mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei.
The appearance of symptoms takes at-least 4 to 6 weeks.
The skin causes itching, gets “pimply”, consists of small blisters or scaliness.
There is an appearance of lines that are elevated, white or flesh-toned.

Strawberry Nevus

There is an elevated spot which is red or purple, that is situated on the face, scalp, back or chest. It is a red birthmark.
Is seen at the time of birth or in too young kids.
Slowly gets tiny and vanishes as the child grows till the age of 10 years.
These are also termed as hemangioma.

Dermatofibroma

It is a tiny, hard bump that majorly occurs on the legs and the color of it is a reddish-brown color. If it is damaged, it could result in bleeding as it consists of nerves and blood vessels.
The cause is unknown, but it might occur after a small injury such as a bug bite.

When to visit a doctor related to Raised Skin Bumps

Major of the skin bumps do not cause any harm. But it is important to visit a doctor in case of:

If the skin bumps stay for a longer duration or if the appearance changes or gets worse.
It is painful and causes “discomfort.”
The cause of the bumps is unknown.
If you feel you are suffering from an infection or cancer of the skin.

The physician would perform an examination and check the skin bumps. Do give details related to the skin bumps, medical history and about your life-style to the physician.

Also if required, the physician would perform a skin biopsy to check whether the skin bumps are cancerous or no. With the final reports, your physician would ask you to refer a “dermatologist or other specialists” for more investigations.

Raised Skin Bumps

(Definition, Types, Caused and Treatment)

What is Raised Skin Bumps?

Causes for Skin Bumps

Acne (Pimples)

These majorly occur on face, neck, shoulders, chest and upper area of the back.
As per the American Academy of Dermatology, Acne is a major condition of skin seen in the US.
These lead to skin bumps that are tiny and not painful to big and causes pain. The bumps also result in redness and “swelling
These are break-outs that appear on the skin which consist of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or deep and full of painful cysts and nodules.
If not treated, it could cause skin darkening or scars on the skin.

Cold Sore

There are red blisters, filled with fluids that occur close to the mouth and lips.
The areas that are affected would often cause tingling or burning sensations before there is visibility of the sore.
Along with these breakouts, there would be flu-kind of symptoms like fever, aches in the body and lymph nodes that are swollen.

Corns and Calluses

These are circles that are round and tiny, of thick skin. They cause a lot of pain, “horn-like central area of hardened tissues.”
These occur majorly on the “top or sides of the toe and the soles of the feet.”
These are a caused due to rubbing or force.

Skin Tags

These are tiny skin growths that have a protrusion or bump at the end.
The growth of skin increases to half an inch in size.
The color is the same or could even be slightly dark.
Majorly occurs as a result of rubbing i.e. friction.
Majorly occurs close to neck, armpits, breasts, groin, stomach and eye-lids.

Nodules

It occurs as a result of tissues that are abnormal and majorly occur in parts like armpits, groin, head and neck region.
The growth occurs from tiny to medium size. It is full of “tissues, liquid or both.”
It is normally bigger in terms of width than a pimple. It also looks hard, “smooth elevation under the skin.”
It normally does not cause any harm but causes some mild pain it is pushed against other “structures” or composition.
These could be situated in the body, deep within, where it cannot be felt or seen.

Impetigo

It is a skin infection caused by bacteria. These are highly infectious and transmittable.
These are majorly found in kids i.e. children.
There is the formation of rashes that are located majorly near the “mouth, chin and nose.”
Rashes are quite disturbing. Blisters are full of fluids or liquids that “pop easily and forms a honey-colored crust.”

Molluscum Contagiosum

They occur together in numbers of up-till 20.
They are tiny, shiny and smooth.
The color is fresh and either pink or white.
They are hard and shape of a dome with a slight dip or dimple in the center.

Lipomas

It is a mass or bunch of fatty tissues beneath the skin and is normally not painful.
They are quite tender and is easily movable if touched or poked with the finger.
It is tiny, situated beneath the skin.
Color is pale or colorless.
It is majorly found near the neck, back or shoulders.
If it extends to the nerves, it causes a lot of pain.

Cyst

These are tiny, sacs that are flesh-colored below the skin full of keratin i.e. a tender cheese like protein. This occurs as a result of damage or blockage of the hair follicle or oil gland which forms the gradually occurring bumps.
It is a bump that grows slowly which is present beneath the skin and the surface is smooth.
It could be tiny or big and does not cause much pain.
Until any kind of infections, it would not cause any problems or issues. It is very big and growth is in sensitive areas.
Growth of certain cysts occurs deep within the body, which cannot be felt or seen.
Most of the cysts are not cancerous and might not require to be treated. But if they get painful or swollen, it is important to consult a physician.

Wart

This is a result of various kinds of viruses termed as human papillomavirus (HPV).
They are situated on the “skin or mucous membranes.”
They are either found single or together.
They are also transmissible or infectious and can be transferred to others.

Actinic Keratosis

The size is smaller than 2 cm or similar to the size of a “pencil eraser.”
The patch on the skin appears as “thick, scaly or crusty.”
It majorly occurs in those areas of the body that are exposed to the sun i.e. hands, arms, face, scalp and neck.”
The color is normally pink but the base could be brown, tan or gray.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

It is a type of cancer that harms the skin’s top layer.
It depicts a scar that is elevated or lifted, hard and areas are pale.
It is of the shape of a dome, pink or red, the areas are pearly that has a center which is sunken like a crater.
The blood vessels are visible on the growth.
The wound gets hurt easily and bleeds, which takes time to heal or heals but then occurs again.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

It is a kind of cancer of the skin that starts in the squamous cells. These cells form the “outer-most layer of the skin.”
These majorly occur in parts, with exposure to UV radiation like the face, ears, and back of the hands.
There is a patch of scales and red skin that further moves to form a raised skin bump and continue to grow.
The bleeding occurs easily and is difficult to heal or heals but then occurs again.

Melanoma

This is a very critical form of cancer for the skin. It is more commonly found in fair people.
It starts with an atypical mole. Moles that cause cancer are not symmetrical, too many colors, big or huge and borders are not regular.
Moles are present anywhere in the body, which is not shaped properly from edges, the shape is asymmetrical and colors are multiple.
In this case, there is a change in color or gets big over time i.e. Mole
It is bigger than the “pencil eraser.”

Boils

There is an infection caused due to bacteria or fungus of a “hair follicle or oil gland.”
It occurs at any place through-out the body but majorly found on the face, neck, armpit, and buttock.
The bump is red and causes lots of pain, with the middle being white or yellow.
It breaks and the fluid or liquid spills out.

Bullae

It is a blister consisting of transparent, water-based, and filled with fluids or liquids.
The size of bullae is more than 1 cm.
It could occur as a result of rubbing or “friction, contact dermatitis, and other skin issues.”
There could be an occurrence of infection if the transparent fluid turns into a milky one.
It could also be a result of dermatitis and chickenpox.

Contact Dermatitis

Once it comes in touch with an allergen, it appears after many hours or days.
When the skin touches the substance that irritates, it results in rashes that have visible borders.
Skin causes itching, redness, scaly and raw.
Blisters become “weep, oozy and crusty.”

Cherry Angioma

These are small, bright spots that are red in color or “bumps on the skin” and are not harmful.
Skin growth would be seen in any place on the body, but majorly seen on the torso, arms, legs and shoulders.
Majorly seen in individuals between the age of 30’s and ’40s and increases with age.
There are spots which are tiny, bright, red circle-shaped that would be elevated or is smooth. When rubbed or scratched, it would result in bleeding.
It is normally not harmful but also requires to be removed if it is present in an area that causes problems or issues. Also if the color changes to dark brown or black, inform the physician to prevent cancer of the skin.

Keloids

When there is a harm to the skin, fibrous tissues termed as scar tissue occurs on the wound for repairing and protecting the “injury.” In few cases, excess growth of scar tissue occurs that forms “smooth and hard growths” called keloids.
They are bigger than the original wound.
They majorly occur on the chest, shoulders, earlobes and cheeks. It could occur anywhere on the body.
At before a place of injury, symptoms occur. They do not cause any harm. If they do not cause any irritation, just avoid them. But if it is causing any itching sensations or is big enough, do get it treated or removed.
It could because of pain or itching, if the part of skin gets hard, stiff and uneven.
That part or area becomes flesh-colored, pink or red.

Keratosis Pilaris

It is a condition of the skin that is caused by an “overgrowth of protein” termed as keratin.
It is a common condition of the skin that is majorly seen in arms, legs but also is seen on the face, buttocks, and trunk.
This goes away by itself until the age of 30 years.
The skin is in a patch form that occurs bumpy, red in color and uneven.
In dry weather gets worse.

Seborrheic Keratoses

It is majorly seen in the elderly, where there is growth of the skin that is harmless.
It could be present at any place on the body, excluding on palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The growth is round, oval and the color is dark with the appearance of a “stuck-on.”
It feels like wax which is elevated and bumpy.

Chicken Pox

“It is a common childhood virus.”
It has a bunch or mass of blisters that are itchy, red and full of fluids or liquids on the entire body.
There would be rashes along with fever, pain in the body, soreness of the throat, appetite reduces.
It is infectious or transmittable, till the entire blister have “crusted over.”

MSRA (Staph) Infection

This condition requires an immediate medical emergency.
In this case, the infection is caused by a kind of Staphylococcus or staph, bacteria that cause resistance to various antibiotics.
While entering into the skin through a cut or a scratch, it results in infection.
The infection of the skin appears like a bite from a spider which causes pain, pimple that is red or purple that results in drainage of the pus.
Strong forms of antibiotics are required for the treatment and could result in harmful situations like cellulitis (bacterial infection) or infection of the blood.

Scabies

It is an infection that occurs from mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei.
The appearance of symptoms takes at-least 4 to 6 weeks.
The skin causes itching, gets “pimply”, consists of small blisters or scaliness.
There is an appearance of lines that are elevated, white or flesh-toned.

Strawberry Nevus

There is an elevated spot which is red or purple, that is situated on the face, scalp, back or chest. It is a red birthmark.
Is seen at the time of birth or in too young kids.
Slowly gets tiny and vanishes as the child grows till the age of 10 years.
These are also termed as hemangioma.

Dermatofibroma

It is a tiny, hard bump that majorly occurs on the legs and the color of it is a reddish-brown color. If it is damaged, it could result in bleeding as it consists of nerves and blood vessels.
The cause is unknown, but it might occur after a small injury such as a bug bite.

When to visit a doctor related to Raised Skin Bumps

Major of the skin bumps do not cause any harm. But it is important to visit a doctor in case of:

If the skin bumps stay for a longer duration or if the appearance changes or gets worse.
It is painful and causes “discomfort.”
The cause of the bumps is unknown.
If you feel you are suffering from an infection or cancer of the skin.

The physician would perform an examination and check the skin bumps. Do give details related to the skin bumps, medical history and about your life-style to the physician.

References

Image Credits

Photo Credits: medicalnewstoday.com
Photo Credits: Webmed.com
Photo Credits: Wikipedia.org
Photo Credits: MDedge.com
Photo Credit: Healthline.com

What is Raised Skin Bumps?