Skin Growths

Your skin is one of the largest organs of your body and is made up of fat, proteins, water, and minerals. It helps shield your body from germs and regulates the body temperature. The nerves in your skin help you feel tactile (touch) sensations like hot and cold. As you get older, it is common to develop skin growth. These abnormal cell multiplications leading to overgrowths can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most skin growths are considered harmless, but a few may be a sign of something more serious.  

This article will explore some common skin growths, both benign and malignant.  

Common Benign Skin Growths 

Benign skin growths are non-cancerous and usually do not require treatment unless they appear suspicious. Some of the common ones have been discussed below:

Freckles 

• These are small, flat, pigmented spots under your skin.
• Freckles are common in areas exposed to the sun- your face and arms.
• These spots vary in color, ranging from red to dark brown. 
• Usually, freckles are treated for cosmetic reasons through laser therapy.

Moles 

• A mole is a hyperpigmented or skin-colored, slightly raised plaque-like round spot derived from melanocytes (cells that produce melanin). 
• When it appears bluish-black, a mole is called a blue nevus. 
• You may be born with it or acquire it as you age. 
• Most moles do not require treatment unless they are cosmetically bothersome or cause suspicion of cancer. They may be removed through razor or laser therapy.

Keloids

• A thick, raised scar near the site of a previous skin injury characterizes Keloid. 
• This often develops due to increased collagen production during the healing process of the injured site. 
• They often occur on the face, neck, and chest.
• Keloids are flesh-colored, pink, or brown lumpy scars with itching or burning sensation.
• Keloids can be treated through steroid injections, complete excision, or radiation therapy.

Skin Tags (Acrochordon)

• These are flesh-colored or brown skin overgrowths that appear as tiny lumps in the neck, under the arm, or groin area. 
• Skin tags are often harmless and do not require treatment unless they are cosmetically unpleasing. 
• Treatment may involve excision, cryosurgery, or electrodesiccation (burning). 

Lipoma

• Lipoma is a soft, slow-growing, harmless lump of fat that usually does not cause any symptoms. 
• However, lipoma may be painful if the lump compresses a nerve.
• Larger and painful lipomas can be removed through surgical excision or liposuction. 

Cysts

• Cysts are often skin-colored, firm nodules with a dome-shaped projection in the middle known as a punctum.
• They are usually filled with a clear fluid but may also contain pus if infected. 
• Painful, inflamed cysts may be removed through incision and drainage or corticosteroid injections.

Seborrheic Keratoses

• These growths appear as brown, scaly plaques of varying size and thickness. 
• Middle-aged and older adults are commonly affected by seborrheic keratosis. 
• Treatment may include cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) or curettage (a special tool to scrape the tissue).

Cherry angioma

• These are small, red-colored, smooth, pinhead-shaped growths made up of blood vessels and found commonly on the trunk and extremities.
• Unaesthetic appearance may require treatment through electrodesiccation, cryotherapy, laser, or shave excision.

Pyogenic Granuloma 

• These growths are solitary, tiny papules that often appear on the face, lips, and fingers. They bleed easily due to the presence of blood vessels within them.
• Treatment options include laser therapy, curettage, or excision. 

Sebaceous Hyperplasia 

• It is a condition characterized by an abnormal enlargement of the sebaceous glands (produce an oily lubricant called sebum) resulting in small, yellowish, or flesh-colored bumps on the skin.
• These bumps often develop on the forehead, cheeks, nose, chest, and back. 
• Treatment usually involves topical retinoid creams, cryotherapy, electrosurgery, or laser treatments.

Dermatofibroma

• These are dusky red or brown, firm papules often found on the arms and legs.
• These usually do not cause symptoms but can be itchy and cause irritation.
• Treatment may involve corticosteroid injections or removal through shave excision or cryotherapy.

Common Malignant Skin Growths

Malignant skin growths are cancerous and grow rapidly, spreading to different body parts. Some of the common malignant growths have been discussed below:

Melanoma 

• It is a rapidly growing skin cancer that arises from normal skin or an existing mole. 
• Melanoma appears brown or black and is commonly seen on the legs (women), chest, and back (men). 
• Melanoma can be removed through surgery, and severe cases may require additional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. 

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• It is a slow-growing skin growth that appears as a flat, reddish-brown patch on the face, neck, ears, lips, and the back of your hands. 
• Treatment involves surgical removal of cancerous tissues along with some surrounding healthy tissue.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

• This is the most common form of skin cancer characterized by tiny, raised, translucent, shiny pink, red, or pearly bumps. 
• A rodent ulcer is a common appearance of BCC, which looks like an ulcer with its center gnawed by a rodent.
• BCC often develops due to increased sun exposure or tanning beds, and the ears and nose are common sites. 
• Treatment involves MOHS (microsurgery done by sparing as much as healthy tissue possible) surgery or electrodesiccation. 

Merkel Cell Carcinoma 

• This is a rare, rapidly growing, and dangerous type of skin cancer which is difficult to treat.
• It often starts as a firm, pink, or red lump or bump in the sun-exposed areas of the skin.
• Treatment involves removal through surgery, followed by radiation or chemotherapy.

Actinic Keratosis 

• This type of growth is also known as solar keratosis.
• It appears as a rough, scaly patch on the skin due to UV (ultraviolet) rays damage either from the sun or tanning beds.
• It is usually a precancerous condition that can turn into squamous cell carcinoma.
• Treatment may involve cryotherapy, topical chemotherapy, or laser surgery. 

Takeaway 

Most skin growths are benign, but there is always a risk that they may be malignant or precancerous. Knowing the signs and symptoms is crucial, especially for suspicious growths. Benign growths usually do not require treatment unless they pose cosmetic challenges and appear on visible areas of the body. On the other hand, malignant growths require treatment through various methods like surgery, cryotherapy, laser ablation, or chemotherapy.  

If you are unsure about your skin growth, which may change in appearance over time, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Early intervention is imperative to successful treatment outcomes.