Skin-colored (aka flesh-colored) bumps on the face can be skin tags, warts, seborrheic keratosis, molluscum contagiosum, syringomas, closed comedones, lipoma, intradermal nevus, skin cysts, and rarely skin cancer.
While most of these are harmless, it is important to get them examined by a doctor to know what is causing them.
Below you will find 12 skin conditions or causes that can lead to skin-colored bumps on the face, along with pictures and treatment options.
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1. Skin Tags
Skin tags are benign skin lesions that may appear in skin folds. The other names used for this bump are acrochordon and fibroepithelial polyp.
They are usually skin-colored/flesh-colored or slightly darker than skin and are attached to our skin with a fine stalk. The surface is usually smooth.
They are small between 1- 5 mm but can rarely grow large to 1-2 cm in size.
The common areas where skin tags can occur are the neck, armpits, groin, under the breast, and genitalia. On the face, you can see them on the eyelids or around the eyes, although they can occur anywhere.
Almost 50-60% of adults will have skin tags in their lifetime and the likelihood increases with age, especially after 40 years of age.
Some risk factors for developing skin tags are:
- Rubbing of skin
- Genetic predisposition
- Diabetic
- Overweight
- Pregnancy
- Hormonal changes
Diagnosis
They can be diagnosed clinically, and in some cases, these may be sent for pathological examination to rule out any other skin condition
Treatment
Skin tags are harmless and usually do not require treatment. However, they may cause discomfort if they repetitively get caught in clothing or jewelry.
It can be removed in several ways:
- Shaving or cutting it off with sterile surgical instruments.
- Cryosurgery – Freezing with liquid nitrogen.
- Electrosurgery – Electric current to cauterize it.
- Ligation to cut off the blood supply.
Do not try to remove skin tags at home as that can lead to infection, bleeding, or scarring.
2. Lipoma
Lipomas are non-cancerous benign growth of fat cells. They can appear anywhere on the body. The common areas are the forehead, neck, shoulders, trunk, arms, or legs.
They are usually less than 2 inches, soft and doughy, and move freely when pressed with a finger. They are painless unless they are near nerves or contain blood vessels.
It is not completely clear why some people get it, but genetics are considered an important factor. These may be associated with some inherited disorders.
There are several types of lipomas and the conventional lipoma with mature fat cells is the most common type.
Diagnosis
They can be diagnosed clinically by physical examination. In some cases. imaging or skin biopsy may be done.
Treatment
Lipomas can be surgically excised. In some cases, the fatty lump is removed by a needle. This is called liposuction.
3. Warts
Warts are small growths that can occur anywhere on the body including the face. These occur due to infection of the skin by HPV or human papillomavirus. There are many types of HPV virus and only a few of them are associated with warts.
Warts are contagious and the virus usually spreads by sexual contact. However, it can occur through any skin-to-skin contact.
One may get it by directly coming in contact with a wart or by touching the face after handling a wart elsewhere on the body. It can also be acquired by contaminated surfaces or sharing common things like towels.
Any type of skin injury or skin barrier impairment can make one prone to warts. This includes cutting, shaving, after acne, or chronic skin conditions like eczema.
Two common types of warts that can appear on the face are:
- Flat warts: They usually appear on the cheeks and forehead and have a smoother surface. They are only a few mm in size, usually less than 10 mm. They can be pink or skin-colored and can appear in clusters. Flat warts tend to appear more commonly in children.
- Filiform warts: These are spiky and bumpy or have irregular surfaces. They usually protrude from the surface. They can be skin-colored, pink, or brown in color. They often appear near the eye, mouth, or nose.
Diagnosis
They can be diagnosed clinically. A biopsy may be done in a few cases.
Treatment
It is important to not touch the warts to avoid their spread to other parts of the face or body.
There are several over-the-counter topicals that contain very strong ingredients like high concentrations of salicylic acid. Using them on the face without a doctor’s guidance can result in scarring. So, it’s always best to speak to a doctor before trying them on the face.
Warts can also clear up on their own without treatment, although it may take up to two years.
Some prescription topicals can help in resolving them. These include retinoic acid, podophyllin, topical 5-fluorouracil, interferon, and imiquimod.
A few procedures can be done in a doctor’s office to remove them:
- Cryotherapy – freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen.
- Electrosurgery to burn the wart.
- Curettage.
- Excision.
4. Seborrheic keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis is a common non-cancerous growth formed by the proliferation of skin cells. This tends to occur in middle to older age individuals.
It appears as round or oval lesions that have a stuck-on appearance. They are usually brown but can also be skin-colored, tan, pink, or black. The surface can be rough or scaly.
Its incidence increases with age. There is some role of genetics as many people with this have a family history.
In some cases, they may get irritated or may bleed.
The name seborrheic keratosis is a misnomer as it has nothing to do with sebaceous glands nor does it occur in oily or seborrheic areas.
Diagnosis
They can be diagnosed clinically. A biopsy may be needed in a few cases to rule out other skin conditions.
Treatment
Seborrheic keratosis does not require treatment unless it’s bothersome or due to cosmetic reasons.
The treatment options include:
- Cryotherapy.
- Laser ablation.
- Curettage.
- Shave or excision.
- Topical 40% Hydrogen Peroxide – HP40 (FDA-approved prescription).
5. Molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection that occurs due to a pox virus called molluscum contagiosum.
It presents with small (1-5 mm) skin-colored (flesh-colored), white or pink bumps on the skin. The surface is smooth and can look shiny.
These bumps usually have a central depression in them and are filled with waxy material.
These are commonly seen in children but can occur in adults if the immune system is suppressed. This virus can spread by direct contact with the lesion or contaminated surface. It can also be transferred via sexual contact.
It can appear on the face, chest, back, or extremities (also on genitalia in adults).
Diagnosis
These are usually diagnosed clinically. In some cases, a skin biopsy may be done.
Treatment
Molluscum contagiosum usually doesn’t require treatment. However, it can take a long time to disappear, up to 2 years in some cases.
Few procedures can be done in a doctor’s office to remove them like laser therapy, curettage, or cryotherapy.
Read more: Molluscum contagiosum treatment and prevention
6. Closed comedones
Comedones are a type of non-inflammatory acne lesions. These occur due to blockage of hair follicles with sebum and dead skin cells resulting in a bump on the face.
- Open comedones are open on the surface resulting in the oxidation of sebum oils and forming a blackhead.
- Closed comedones are not open on the surface.
Closed comedones are common on sebaceous-rich areas like the forehead and chin. They appear as skin-colored or white bumps.
These occur due to increased oil production especially around puberty, hormonal changes, stress, harsh skin care products, or over-exfoliation.
In some studies, smoking is also associated with comedonal acne.
Diagnosis
They can be identified by physical examination.
Treatment
One can use several over-the-counter ingredients to clear closed comedones. This includes:
- Salicylic acid
- Retinol
- Azelaic acid
- Benzoyl peroxide
For more stubborn bumps, retinoids like tretinoin, oral isotretinoin, or birth control pills may be prescribed. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion can also help in resolving them.
Avoid trying to squeeze them as that can lead to infection and scarring.
7. Syringomas
Syringomas are formed due to overactive sweat glands. They present as firm yellow or skin-colored bumps (around 1 to 3 mm in size).
These are usually seen around the eyes, upper cheeks, armpits, chest, or genitalia. These may be related to diabetes, increased physical activity, high temperature, and Down syndrome.
Diagnosis
In most cases, syringomas can be identified clinically by a doctor.
Treatment
Usually, syringomas do not require treatment. However, if one wants to get rid of them, the following are the treatment options:
- Chemical peels
- Electrosurgery
- Laser
- Dermabrasion
- Excision
8. Intradermal nevus
Intradermal nevus is a type of mole that produces a bump on the skin which is usually skin-colored or slightly darker than that. They often appear in adults in middle age.
These occur due to benign proliferation of melanocytes in the dermis or deeper layers of skin. They are usually small, ranging from 5 mm to 1 cm, and are well-demarcated from the surrounding area.
They are soft and rubbery and may have hair attached to them.
These may occur due to sun damage or genetics.
Diagnosis
They can be diagnosed clinically. If they appear unusual, a biopsy may be done.
Treatment
Intradermal nevus can be removed by dermal electrosurgical shave excision. In this, the lesion is shaved off and then electrosurgery is used to remove any residual cells and smooth the wound which makes the scar less noticeable.
9. Sebaceous hyperplasia
Sebaceous hyperplasia occurs due to entrapment of sebum in the sebaceous glands leading to their enlargement.
They can appear anywhere on the face, although they are commonly seen on the cheeks and forehead.
They are skin-colored, white or yellow in color and a few mm in size.
Diagnosis
These can be diagnosed clinically by a doctor. If they appear unusual or are confused with another lesion, a doctor may do a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Sebaceous hyperplasia does not require treatment. However, some people may want to remove them for cosmetic reasons.
- Over-the-counter retinoids may help in some cases.
- Prescription-strength retinoids like tretinoin can decrease their size and may be more efficient in improving them.
- Oral isotretinoin and anti-androgens may help in shrinking these lesions.
- Several in-office procedures may be helpful in removing them:
- Lasers
- Freezing the bump
- Electrodesiccation
- Photodynamic therapy
- Excision
10. Skin cysts
There are different types of skin cysts. Epidermoid cysts are the most common type and can appear on the face as skin or flesh-colored bumps.
An epidermoid cyst is also referred to as an epidermal inclusion cyst. Some people also refer to it as a sebaceous cyst, but that is a misnomer, as true sebaceous cysts are not very common.
An epidermal cyst occurs due to blockage or injury to the hair follicle. These cysts are lined by stratified squamous epithelium and are filled with keratinous material.
It usually presents with skin-colored or white bumps on the skin. They are common on the face, neck, and back. These cysts are painless unless they become inflamed or infected.
Diagnosis
It can be diagnosed clinically by a doctor. They might perform a physical examination and take any relevant history.
Treatment
Epidermoid cysts do not require treatment unless they are causing symptoms or for cosmetic reasons. To completely remove this, the cyst including the entire cyst wall needs to be excised.
11. Actinic keratosis
Actinic keratosis is a precancerous lesion of squamous cells (a type of skin cell) that occurs when these cells get damaged due to exposure to UV rays.
It can present in various forms – as a skin-colored, pink, tan, or brown bump. The overlying surface can be rough, scaly, or crusty.
It is commonly seen in areas exposed to the sun like ears, lips, face, neck, arms, or legs.
Diagnosis
It can be diagnosed clinically, in some cases, a skin biopsy may be taken to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Actinic keratosis can be treated with topical medications, cryotherapy, or excision.
12. Skin cancer
Skin-colored bumps on the face can rarely be due to skin cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It originates from basal cells which form stratum basale (the bottom layer of the epidermis). It occurs due to DNA damage in these cells from UV rays.
It can present as a shiny bump that is skin-colored, white, pink, or red in color. It may also look like a red irritated patch, a non-healing ulcer, or a scar-like area.
It is usually seen in areas exposed to the sun, especially the face, ears, neck, scalp, and trunk.
Diagnosis
In most cases, it is diagnosed clinically. In some cases. a biopsy is taken to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing tumor and if treated early can have a good prognosis. It is usually treated with surgery in which the tumor along with healthy tissue surrounding it is removed.
Other treatment options if surgery cannot be performed include cryotherapy, radiation, curettage, or topical treatments.
Amelanotic melanoma
Melanoma is a skin cancer that arises from melanocytes which make melanin pigment.
Amelanotic melanoma is a rare variant in which the tumor cells lack pigment. So, these tumors are referred to as amelanotic melanoma.
This usually appears as skin-colored, red, or pink bumps with an irregular border.
The exact cause of why melanoma occurs is not clear, however, genetics and UV rays probably play a role in it.
Diagnosis
For diagnosis, the lesion is examined by a doctor. A skin biopsy may be taken to confirm the diagnosis of melanoma.
Treatment
Usually, amelanotic melanoma is treated with a wide local excision of the lesion. Depending on the size and if it has spread to other organs of the body, other treatment options may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy.
When to see a doctor
One should see a doctor if:
- The bump is growing quickly.
- It looks unusual.
- It is painful, bleeding, or has visible discharge.
- You have systemic symptoms like fever.
- You are not sure what is causing the bump.
Key points
Skin-colored bumps on the face can occur due to benign non-cancerous growths, cysts, infections, and rarely cancer.
Some of these don’t require treatment unless they cause discomfort. However, rarely they can be due to serious skin conditions like cancer. So, it’s important to see a doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, if one decides to get them removed for cosmetic reasons, various prescription topical medications and in-office procedures can be helpful.
Read more:
- White Bumps on Face: 8 Causes (Not only Milia) and Treatments
- 37 Causes of Red Spots on Skin with Pictures
- Purple Spots on Skin: 9 Causes (including bruise-like spots)
References
- Pandey A, Sonthalia S. Skin Tags. [Updated 2022 Jun 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan.
- Syringoma. Cleveland Clinic.
- Al Aboud AM, Nigam PK. Wart. [Updated 2022 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan.
- Common Warts, Mayo Clinic.
- Greco MJ, Bhutta BS. Seborrheic Keratosis. [Updated 2022 Feb 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan.
- Murphy EC, Friedman AJ. Hydrogen Peroxide Topical Solution, 40% (w/w) for the Treatment of Seborrheic Keratoses: A Review. Skin Therapy Lett. 2020 Jan;25(1):1-4. PMID: 32023021.
- Amelanotic Melanoma: It Doesn’t Look Like Other Melanomas. Skin Cancer Foundation.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for information purposes only and does not replace medical advice.