Bumps on the skin describe any abnormal raised areas, including lumps and swelling.
Their causes can lead to different symptoms and treatments.
Most skin bumps arebenign(noncancerous) and not a cause for concern.
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Some are temporary and will go away on their own, while others are permanent but harmless.
Many skin bumps are always the same size; others get bigger over time.
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Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from A DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Causes
Bumps can appear on the skin for many reasons.
MRSA skin infections cause fever as well as a painful, hot, pus-filled bump on the skin.
It is not contagious and does not require treatment, apart from concerns over appearance.
Children and teens are more likely to develop this condition than are adults.
Chickenpox, with its itchy rash of small blisters, is also a viral infection.
Anyone who gets chickenpox is also at risk of gettingshingles, or herpes zoster (HZ).
For others, treatment will depend on the cause.
In some cases, this may be a sign of skin cancer.
You should also seek medical help if you think your skin bumps may be related to an infection.
These bumps may be swollen, painful, red, and/or hot to the touch.
They tend to develop within 24 to 48 hours.
Some causes of skin bumps also include bacterial and viral infections.
Rarely, skin bumps may be precancerous or cancerous.
Let yourdermatologistknow if you notice any new bumps or bumps that have changed in shape or size.
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