Skin lump treatment

A lump may sit within the skin or beneath it and can be soft, firm, tender, warm, mobile or fixed. A boil is an infected, painful collection that may develop around a hair follicle. Other lumps are not infections and should not be squeezed or opened at home.

A changing sore, a lump that bleeds or a growth that does not heal needs assessment because basal cell carcinoma can resemble a persistent bump or sore. Appearance is not enough to determine the cause; a clinician may examine it closely and arrange further testing when needed.

Do not pierce, squeeze or repeatedly rub the area. Note when it appeared, whether it changes, and whether pain, discharge or fever occurs. A clinician may recommend observation for a harmless stable lump, drainage for a suitable infection, or a procedure to remove a bothersome or diagnostically uncertain growth.

An intralesional steroid injection may be considered for selected inflamed scars or nodules. It is delivered into the lesion by a trained professional and is not appropriate for every lump, particularly when infection or an undiagnosed growth is possible.

Arrange medical assessment for any new persistent lump, especially one that grows, becomes firm or fixed, changes colour, crusts, bleeds or fails to heal. Seek urgent care for rapidly worsening pain, spreading redness, fever, facial swelling or feeling acutely unwell.

What features suggest infection, a cyst, scar tissue or another growth? Does this lump need imaging, sampling or removal? If an injection is considered, what diagnosis is it treating and what changes should prompt review?