Six common types of bumps on your skin – and the ones that could be deadly
THERE are many different types of lumps and bumps that appear on our skin.
In most cases they're harmless, but some can be warning signs that something more sinister is going on - from cancer to liver problems.
For this reason it's really important to know what to look out for so you can work out whether you need to seek medical advice.
Here are six common types of skin blemishes that you should be aware of.
1. Papules
Papules are one of the most common types of bumps that appear on the skin and are a type of pimple, according to Medical News Today.
But unlike the usual pimples with pustules, they don't have a yellowish, liquid blister of pus and are, instead, solid to touch.
They appear when the skin's pores become so blocked with dead skin cells, oil and bacteria that they break.
Papules are usually small, only growing to be about the width of a fingernail.
It may have a dome shape or it may have a flattened top, and it may even have a small impression in the middle that looks like a navel.
They can be treated with over-the-counter medicines and, if these do not work, a GP can prescribe medication.
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2. Skin tags
Skin tags are small, soft, skin-coloured growths that hang off the skin and look a bit like warts.
They are quite common and harmless and are usually found on the neck, armpits, around the groin or under breasts.
Also known as acrochordons, they can also develop on the eyelids or under the folds of the bottom.
Skin tags are made of loose collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by skin.
They are more common in older people and often develop after weight gain or pregnancy.
They are considered more of a cosmetic concern rather than a medical problem.
3. Basal cell carcinoma
The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma.
It is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer that develops in the outermost layer of skin.
More than 100,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, according to the NHS.
Basal cell carcinoma is usually caused by intense sun exposure, affects more men than women and is more common in the elderly.
It will rarely spread beyond the original tumour site, but if left untreated may cause damage to the nerves and muscles.
4. Melanoma
This is the most serious type of skin cancer and can affect any area of the body's skin.
It grows so deep in the skin it can affect the lymph nodes and blood vessels.
The most common warning sign of a melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole.
This can occur anywhere on the body, but the most commonly affected areas are the back in men and the legs in women.
There were more than 15,000 new cases of melanoma in the UK in 2014, according to Cancer Research UK.
Depending on the stage of the cancer, the survival rates are different.
Most people will survive a stage one melanoma, but by stage four the survival rate drops to 10 per cent in men and 25 per cent in women.
5. Actinic keratosis
Ultraviolet light, from any type of sun exposure, can cause actinic keratosis.
The condition usually shows itself as dry, scaly patches caused by years of sun exposure.
The patches can be pink, red or brown in colour, and can vary in size from a few millimetres to a few centimetres across.
They most commonly appear on the face, especially the nose and forehead, forearms and back of the hands, on bald scalps or on the legs.
The patches are usually harmless and sometimes disappear on their own, but they are considered a pre-cancer because they can develop into a carcinoma if left untreated.
6. Hemangiomas
Hemangiomas are a type of noncancerous tumour that can grow on the skin due to an abnormal collection of blood vessels.
They are most commonly a birthmark that appears as a rubbery, bright red nodules.
A hemangioma can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly appears on the face, scalp, chest or back.
If someone has multiple hemangiomas on their skin, they are at increased risk for also having an internal hemangioma, most often, the liver.
- If you are ever worried about a lump or bump on your skin, you should speak to your doctor for professional advice
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