What should you know about eruptive dermatofibroma?

A dermatofibroma is a firm nodule within the skin, often tan, pink, brown, or darker than nearby skin. It may feel fixed in place and can indent slightly when gently pinched. An eruptive pattern describes multiple lesions developing around the same period, rather than one isolated spot. The appearance can overlap with other skin lumps, so a clinician may examine the surface, firmness, distribution, and history before deciding whether further assessment is needed.

Avoid squeezing, cutting, or repeatedly scratching the nodules. Take a clear photograph beside a ruler so changes in size or colour are easier to describe. Arrange a dermatology review when many lesions appear unexpectedly, when the diagnosis is unclear, or when a lump is irritated by clothing. If removal is chosen because a lesion catches or remains troublesome, surgical excision removes the selected nodule for clinical examination, but it leaves a healing wound and a scar.

Seek prompt medical assessment for a nodule that enlarges, bleeds without repeated trauma, develops an open sore, becomes persistently painful, or changes markedly in colour or shape. New widespread lesions also deserve review, particularly if they appear alongside fever or a broader illness. These features do not identify a diagnosis by themselves; they indicate that direct examination should not be delayed.

Could these lesions be dermatofibromas or another type of skin lump? Does any one spot need dermoscopy or a biopsy? Which lesion, if any, would be reasonable to remove? What scar care should I use after excision?