We end up with lumps and bumps for a lot of reasons. Bites from insects, for example, can cause bumps. A tender lump that suddenly appears in front or behind the ear, under the chin, on the side of the neck, above the collarbone or, less commonly, in the armpit, or groin is usually an enlarged lymph node. The swelling is the body's way of handling an infection in the lymph glands. Sometimes, though, swelling could be a sign of malignancy.
A painless lump that appears on the back of the hand or wrist is usually a ganglion, which is actually a cyst on the skin connected to a joint or tendon. Painless lumps on the knuckles, wrists, elbows or knees are one of the signs of rheumatic fever.
A sebacious cyst is a pale lump beneath the skin. It's firm, movable and tender, and is usually found on the face, scalp, ear, back or scrotum.
Skin tags, also known as "senile warts", tend to run in the family. They're little fleshy nipples that hang from the surface of the skin and can get caught in clothing. You can have a few of these or hundreds, and the size can range from barely visible to over an inch in length.
If you have raised and warty-looking brown to murky yellow lesions on the trunk of your body, you probably have what is called seborrheic keratosis. These lesions also can be seen on the face or scalp. They appear to be stuck on the skin's surface. More common in older men and women, seborrheic keratosis is ugly but harmless.
Syringoma is a benign tumor of the sweat gland caused by enlargement of a sweat duct. This type of tumor usually appears in women under the eyes or around the nose.
Histiocytoma is a tough, raised lesion that is usually solitary and well rounded. These lesions are located on the extremities—near the elbows, knees and hips—and are a bodily reaction to repeated trauma in the area. They are not cancerous.
Sebacious hyperplasia is termed "aged acne" because the shiny, yellow, waxy-oily tumors are really an enlargement of an oil gland and appear on the face. These resemble skin cancer but are not cancerous.
Actinic keratosis is considered to be a precursor of skin cancer. It is characterized by raised, red and scaly bumps, which usually, though not always, occur in groups on sun-exposed areas.
Of course, the big worry with a lump is that it's a sign of cancer, which it can be. But most of the causes of lumps and bumps are quite harmless.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM The lump caused by a swollen gland usually goes away in a few days, although it can sometimes linger past the time when other symptoms of infection—such as fever or sore throat—have gone. If you are worried that your swollen gland is hanging around too long and you are afraid you may have some serious disease as cancer, you should see your physician.
A ganglion often disappears on its own, although a doctor may insert a needle and drain the ganglion or may even surgically remove it. A sebacious cyst is usually treated in the same way. If it's infected, the cyst is opened and drained and antibiotics are prescribed. If the cyst is a cosmetic problem, it can be surgically removed.
It's not difficult to remove skin tags—a doctor can do many at one sitting. Syringomas can be removed by a physician, but because of their location around the eyes and the danger of scarring, many doctors suggest leaving them alone.
If you think you have sebacious hyperplasia or actinic keratosis, you should definitely see a dermatologist. Sebaceous hyperplasia can mimic the sign of cancer, and actinic keratosis is a precursor of the disease. Any suspicious lump should be seen by a doctor.
ACCOMPANYING SYMPTOMS If you have a lump that is hard, red, swollen, tender and painful, you probably hve a boil, an infection of a hair follicle. They most often appear on the neck, face, armpits, back and buttocks. A boil can be treated by applying a hot, wet compress every few hours. Hot compresses help ease the pain and accelerate bursting. If you have a boil, you should take showers instead of baths to reduce the chances of spreading the infection to other parts of the body. You should also wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food. This is because the germs that cause the boil can multiply in warm food and produce toxins that can cause food poisoning.
If you have recurrent boils or your boil doesn't go away within two weeks, you should see your doctor.
If a lump is accompanied by swelling under one or both earlobes, and this was preceded by complaints of pain around the ear—especially when swallowing—and illness, the problem could be mumps. It's best to have a doctor confirm the diagnosis, since mumps can be confused with a swollen lymph gland.