What Are These Bumps On My Skin?

When in comes to bumps on your skin, it can be difficult to know what they are because there are so many possibilities. But knowing what you’re dealing with is an important first step and will help you determine the best course of treatment. In this post, I talk about four common types of skin bumps: Milia, closed comedones, skin growths and skin tags. I also talk about how to identify each of these as well as possible causes and recommended treatments.

All four types of bumps share one common characteristic: they are considered non-inflammatory legions, meaning there is no infection present. If a bump becomes red, inflamed or painful and comes and goes, it’s likely acne. Non-inflammatory legions usually don’t go away unless treated, and people often have them for a long time.

Milia

What are milia?

Milia are hard, tiny bumps on the skin that appear when keratin and hardened oil get trapped below the skin’s surface. Milia are round and, because of how they look, are sometimes described as tiny “pearls.” The hardened oil gives them an off-white color, and they appear most commonly around the eyes, nose and cheeks.

What causes milia?

Though the cause of milia isn’t always clear, there are a few common culprits to look out for:

• Blistering from burns or other injuries/skin conditions
• Long-term sun exposure or use of steroid creams
• Resurfacing procedures — like dermabrasion or laser — performed incorrectly
• A naturally slow exfoliation process
• Using heavy creams near and around the eyes
• Smoking — in my experience, a lot of smokers seem to have milia

How to treat milia

Because milia never come to a head, you should NOT try to extract them yourself. You’ll only end up damaging your skin. Instead, have them removed by a licensed professional. Whether this is a dermatologist or an esthetician will depend on which state you live in. Certain states won’t allow estheticians to pierce a client’s skin, in which case you would need to visit your derm.

Once you find a licensed professional, they will likely remove the milia in one of two ways: manual extraction or electric cauterization (I promise this isn’t as scary as it sounds). To manually extract milia, a professional will pierce the bump with a lancet then gently squeeze to physically extract the keratin and hardened oil. When using an electric cauterizer, the bump will also be pierced with a small needle, but the oil and keratin will be dissolved by heat instead of extracted. A third option for milia removal is cryotherapy, which involves freezing milia off using liquid nitrogen.

To prevent milia from forming, do these things regularly:

• Gentle exfoliation. This will prevent dead skin cells from trapping oil and keratin under the skin’s surface. If you don’t already exfoliate your eye area, you should! Our Overnight Eye Serum is formulated to gently but effectively remove buildup from around the eyes. This will minimize dryness and fine lines and will allow your eye cream to work more effectively.
• Avoid heavy creams, especially around the eye area. All of our eye creams are lightweight so as not to cause puffiness or milia.

Closed Comedones (Clogged Pores)

What are closed comedones?

Closed comedones, also known as comedonal acne, are non-infected, clogged pores. They appear as white bumps on the skin and are often what clients are talking about when they complain about their skin’s texture. Closed comedones are not as round or firm as milia, but left untreated they also tend to hang around without resolving. Closed comedones can eventually turn into inflamed pustules or papules (inflammatory acne). This happens because oxygen can’t get into the blocked pore, which creates the perfect environment for bacteria that can cause infection.

What causes closed comedones?

As you may have guessed, closed comedones are caused by blocked pores. This can be triggered by a number of things:

• Oily skin — those with oily skin are naturally more prone to clogged pores
• Using the wrong skincare products for your skin type — this usually means heavy moisturizers or sunscreens
• Makeup — silicone primers, long-wear foundations and cream blushes are the most common culprits
• A naturally slow exfoliation process

How to treat closed comedones

If you have a lot of closed comedones, you might need to get your pores “cleaned out.” Ask an experienced esthetician about performing a deep pore-cleansing facial with extractions.

There are also topical treatments you can use at home to decrease and prevent closed comedones:

• Exfoliating acids — specifically salicylic acid (BHA). Try our BHA Clarifying Serum.
• Retinoids — Differin Gel is a prescription-strength retinoid that is now available over the counter. It is particularly good for treating non-inflammatory acne and can be a great long-term strategy. If you decide to go this route, read my Beginner’s Guide to Retinol and Retinoids to avoid unwanted side effects.

Skin Growths

What are skin growths?

Skin growths include any other bumps on the face, neck, and body. They are usually benign (non-cancerous) and often begin as small flat or rough bumps on the skin. At first, these growths might be mistaken for clogged pores or breakouts, but these growths will never come to a head and cannot be extracted. Treating them with acne products will only result in dry, irritated skin.

Skin growths typically start to appear around age 35 and become more numerous as we age. Over time, skin growths thicken and get larger, eventually turning into skin tags or a number of other skin conditions: seborrheic keratoses, hyperkeratosis, actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous cells) and sebaceous hyperplasia, to name a few. These can vary in appearance. They can be flesh-colored, red or brown and can assume a number of different shapes and textures. Skin growths are generally made up of excess skin or enlarged oil glands that appear as raised bumps on the skin and are impossible to hide with makeup.

As I mentioned, most of the skin growths I discuss here are benign. That being said, it’s very important to keep an eye out for anything new or changing. Always schedule regular check-ups with your dermatologist and, when in doubt, get it checked out.

What causes skin growths?

Because “skin growths” encompasses such a wide range of conditions, there are a number of potential causes. These are a few of the most common:

• UV damage from consistent exposure to sun
• Age — aging can cause skin bumps since getting older is accompanied by thickening of the skin
• Genetics
• Hormones

How to treat skin growths

Because skin growths tend to get thicker over time, it’s best to have them removed early on while they’re still manageable. Always have them removed by a dermatologist, don’t try to remove them yourself. In my experience, some dermatologists may not want to remove benign growths. If this is the case, you may need to insist on having them removed. You may also want to have your doctor remove just one to see how your skin heals before getting them all removed. The method of removal will depend on the type of growth, but common methods include cryotherapy, electric cauterization and manual removal.

Since many of these growths are caused by a thickening of the skin, regular use of both exfoliating acids and retinol will help minimize the formation of skin growths. Since UV damage can also be an underlying cause, you’ll want to wear a lightweight but effective sunscreen every day.

Skin Tags

What are skin tags?

Skin tags are one of the most common types of benign skin growths. They are soft, fleshy pieces of skin that are usually connected to the skin by a small stem. Skin growths are made up of regular fat and tissue and are therefore often the same color as your skin. They can appear darker than your actual skin if you have a deeper skin tone or if the blood supply to the skin tag is cut off. In this case, it may fall of on its own. Although skin tags can appear anywhere, they are often found in areas that are exposed a lot of friction, like around the eyes, under the arms or on the neck.

What causes skin tags?

It’s not clear what exactly causes skin tags to form, but certain factors seem to increase the likelihood that a person will experience them:

• Friction — from necklaces or areas where skin naturally rubs together
• Genetics
• Hormones — skin tags seem to occur more during pregnancy
• Age — people tend to develop more skin tags as they age
• Insulin-related disorders

How to treat skin tags

Skin tags can be removed by a dermatologist if they cause discomfort or if you just don’t like the way they look. The most common methods of removal for small skin tags are cryotherapy and electric cauterization. If the skin tag is larger, your dermatologist may use a local anesthetic followed by manual removal with scissors or a scalpel.

What about other bumps?

If the bumps are red and painful and come and go, then you might have what is known as a cystic blemish. If you have bumps on the backs of your arms and legs, it might be keratosis pilaris.  Finally, if you have little red, infected bumps on your face, you might have acne cosmetica.

 

Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/milia
https://www.medicinenet.com/skin_tag/article.htm
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/67317.php

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