Lumps under skin or on the skin surface are generally benign
(non-cancerous) and are therefore not classified as a great health issue. These
lumps most often arise on the legs, arms, armpits and the neck, but they can
actually develop anywhere on the body. Lumps under skin can occur as a result
of a variety of skin ailments, as well as underlying health problems.
A really common type of lump that develops under the skin is
a lipoma , which is a soft, rubbery
fatty lump. They grow when fat cells combine, appearing most frequently in
areas like the neck, back, chest and shoulders. Lipomas are benign and can
develop in multiples.
Another common form of lump under skin is a cyst, such as a
sebaceous cyst, which develops when the sebaceous gland becomes obstructed and
bunged up. These types of lumps can grow on the face, back, scalp and the trunk
but they can also develop elsewhere, in areas such as the genitals.
Occasionally, the
lumps can be enlarged lymph nodes, most often appearing under the jaw, on the
neck, in the groin area and in the armpits. This enlargement can be as a result
of some form of trauma, injury or an infection. If a lump develops just below
the Adam’s apple, this may be a swollen thyroid gland or some form of unusual
growth.
Other possible
causes of lumps include carbuncles, boils, abscesses, warts and
folliculitis.
It is wise to have any frequently recurring lumps under skin
assessed by an experienced medical practitioner, as they may be a sign of other
health problems. Any cancerous lumps
that develop are typically hard, coloured and can also alter in shape and size.
In the great majority of cases, lumps under skin are benign, and as such, many will not require a great deal of medical treatment. Cysts occasionally may need to be drained, especially if infected. Likewise, lipomas do not necessarily need treatment, although surgical removal may be performed if the lipoma causes pain by pressing on a nerve, or for cosmetic reasons, if the growth is unsightly.
