What You Need to Know About Skin Bumps and Cysts

There are a variety of different skin conditions not caused by acne that can cause lumps or bumps to appear on the surface or below the skin.

Pimples are the most well-known and hated types of skin bumps we all know about, followed closely by insect bites. But what if you find mysterious bumps on your skin that are neither one nor the other? Should you be worried?

Our hypochondriac minds might make us immediately think of the worse after spotting strange, unidentified skin bumps. But before you start panicking with thoughts of tumors and cancer, know that there are actually dozens of skin conditions that cause bumps or lumps to appear and most of them are completely harmless.

What Exactly is a Cyst?

Cysts are non-cancerous, slow-growing closed pockets of tissues. These skin bumps are common and can appear anywhere. To the touch, a skin cyst feels like a large pea is trapped below the surface of the skin. The mysterious bumps form when a closed pocket of tissue gets filled with fluid, pus, or other materials. Usually, an infection, clogged oil glands, or a foreign object, such as an earring, triggers cyst formation.

Skin cysts are typically painless and are not harmful, unless they become infected or inflamed. However, they usually do not disappear without treatment. If your cyst is causing problems, you will need to find a doctor to get it drained. This will help to relieve symptoms and to reduce the size of the cyst. Inflamed skin cysts can also be treated with an injection of cortisone medication that causes them to shrink. For complete cyst removal, a surgical procedure is needed.

Folliculitis – Red Pimples

Folliculitis resembles a series of red pimples with a hair in the middle of each one. It happens as a result of an inflammation around the hair follicles of the skin and may trigger itching or a burning sensation. Bacteria, yeast, or other fungi are some of the most common causes of folliculitis.

Mild folliculitis tends to disappear on its own after about two weeks. If symptoms become very uncomfortable, you can relieve them by applying warm compresses made with saltwater. There are also medicated shampoos that can be used to treat folliculitis on the scalp or on a beard. In case of a serious inflammation that does not go away, your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic.

Keratosis Pilaris – Hard Bumps

If your skin is covered by small, hard bumps and feels like sandpaper, you may have keratosis pilaris. This is a harmless skin condition caused by a buildup of keratin. The excess keratin forms a plug and blocks the opening of hair follicles, creating light-colored bumps. These skin bumps resemble goose pimples or “chicken skin” and usually appear on the upper arms, thighs, or bum.

There is no treatment for keratosis pilaris, but often the bumps disappear on their own. Keep your skin hydrated in order to minimize the effects of the skin condition. Regularly applying moisturizing creams and lotions to the affected areas will make your skin look and feel better. To prevent it from occurring, try regular gentle exfoliation and proper cleansing.

Milia – White Bumps

Milia are small, white skin bumps that show up mostly on the face. Unlike acne, they are hard to the touch and are not affected by squeezing. Milia can also show up in places where acne typically wouldn’t like around the eyes. These annoying little bumps are formed when dead skin cells get trapped under the skin’s surface.

This skin condition usually goes away on its own, but if waiting for it to fade is not an option, you can try to speed up the process. Milia treatment involves targeted exfoliation with salicyclic acid that allows the bump to dissolve and disappear more quickly.

How to Deal

Any visible bump on the skin can be frustrating, but it’s good to know most of them can be treated or will disappear on their own, so don’t fret just yet.

As a remedy, all of the conditions mentioned can benefit from regular exfoliation and proper cleansing as a 2-step process to remove surface oil, reduce bacteria, and heal any affected skin.

It’s important to consider keeping your skin healthy everyday with a proper skin care program and treatment to best avoid and prevent these kind of bumps from occurring at all. A regular skin care treatment regimen can make sure your skin is always clean and healthy to make you less susceptible to these kind of conditions.