What should you know about many lumps under the skin?

Note each lump's location, size, firmness, mobility, colour, tenderness and duration. Groups of painful red lumps may fit [Boils](/conditions/boils/), while smooth or mobile lumps can have other explanations. A persistent sore, scab, pearly bump or growth that bleeds needs a clinician to consider conditions such as [Basal Cell Carcinoma](/conditions/basal-cell-carcinoma/).

Multiple lumps may be unrelated findings, so a pattern across the body does not establish one diagnosis. Examination may be enough, but some lesions need imaging, sampling or removal for clarification.

Do not squeeze, puncture or repeatedly massage a lump. Take dated photographs, record whether it is growing and note fever, drainage or nearby redness. Arrange a primary-care or dermatology appointment for persistent, recurrent or unexplained lumps. Treatment depends on the cause; an [Steroid Injection Into The Skin](/treatments/injectables/intralesional-steroid-injection/) may help selected inflammatory lesions, but it is not suitable for every lump.

Seek same-day medical advice for rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, fever, red streaks, heavy drainage or a lump near the eye. Arrange prompt review for a firm lump fixed to deeper tissue, a sore that will not heal, or a lesion that changes, crusts or bleeds. Emergency help is appropriate if swelling affects breathing or swallowing.

What features point toward an infection, cyst or growth? Do I need a sample or scan? Should the lumps be treated together or separately, and what should I watch for while waiting?