Most lumps and swellings under the skin are harmless and can be left alone. However, see your doctor if you develop a new lump or swelling so that the cause can be identified.
Most lumps and swellings under the skin are harmless and can be left alone. However, see your doctor if you develop a new lump or swelling so that the cause can be identified.
A painful lump or swelling that appears suddenly over a day or two may be caused by an injury or infection. It's likely to be an infection if the skin around the lump is red and warm. Your doctor can advise you about how to care for this.
Below are some of the most common reasons for an unexplained lump or swelling under the skin in the following areas of the body:
This information should give you an idea about what your lump or swelling might be. However, don't use it to diagnose yourself with a condition. Always leave that to your doctor.
A lump or swelling on the face that wasn't caused by an injury is most likely to be one of the following:
Click on the links above for more information about these conditions.
A lump in the neck or throat is most likely to be one of the following:
Click on the links above for more information about these conditions.
Breast lumps are common and have several different causes. While most breast lumps aren't breast cancer , any unusual changes to the breasts should be checked by a doctor as soon as possible.
Common causes of breast lumps include:
Read more about
.Common causes of a lump or lumps in the groin area include:
Click on the links above for more information on these conditions.
Most testicular lumps are harmless and aren't cancerous. Less than 4 in 100 (4%) of testicular lumps turn out to be
.A lump or swelling in the testicle is most likely to be one of the following:
Read more about
.Anal swellings or lumps are usually one of the following:
A lump on the hand, wrist or finger is probably a
. This is a type of cyst that forms around the joints or tendons.A ganglion cyst usually appears on the back of the wrist. It's made up of a thick jelly-like fluid and feels like a smooth, soft lump under the skin.
It's not clear why ganglions form, but they can be related to ageing or to injury to the joint or tendon.
If the ganglion doesn't cause any pain or discomfort, it can be left and may disappear without treatment. Otherwise, you may need to have it removed.
Sometimes, small rough lumps called
develop on the hands. Warts are caused by an infection with the and are very contagious. However, they're usually harmless and clear up without treatment.A lump on the shoulder, back, chest or arm is most likely to be a
or a cyst.A lipoma is a soft, fatty lump that grows under the skin. It's fairly common, harmless and can usually be left alone. When you press a lipoma it should feel soft and "doughy" to touch. It can range from the size of a pea to a few centimetres across.
A cyst is a sac under the skin that contains fluid, usually pus. It can look a bit like a lipoma but is close to the surface of the skin (lipomas are deeper under the skin). Cysts are firm to the touch. A cyst may disappear without treatment or you may need to have it drained.
A lump in the armpit is likely to be a
, particularly if you also feel unwell and have other signs of an infection. The glands in the armpit can swell to more than a few centimetres in response to infection or illness. Swollen glands usually go down when you recover.It's uncommon for a lump in the armpit to be a lymphoma (cancer of the lymph glands), but you should see your doctor if the lump doesn't go down.
A small, knobbly lump in your armpit that hangs off the skin like a wart is probably a
. Skin tags grow where skin rubs against skin or clothing, which is why they're often seen under the arm. They're very common and harmless, and can be left alone.Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.