| name: | Benign Skin Lesion |
| also known as: | Benign Skin Growth; Skin Bump; Moles; Nevus; Nevi; Birthmark; Skin Tumor; Skin Tumour; Naevi; Skin Moles; Skin Tags; Acrochordon; Keolids; Strawberry Patches; Fibromas; Dermatofibromas; Cherry Spots; Epitheliomas |
| also see: | Melanoma; Basal Cell Skin Cancer; Squamous Cell Skin Cancer; Skin Lesion; Biopsy; Birthmark Changes; ICD Code |
| description: | There are a number of benign processes that grow on the skin, including moles, freckles, skin tags, cherry spots, strawberry patches, fibromas, dermatofibromas, epitheliomas, keloid. Cause is unknown. Risk increased with family history, pregnancy, BCP, hormonal stimulation. |
| signs & symptoms: | Moles are pigmented growths, either flat or raised, and of multiple colors occurring through out the skin. Freckles also called lentigos, are flat, brown or light tan spots occurring through out the skin. Skin tags (acrochordon) are tiny pinched stalks of skin mostly in the armpit, neck and groin. Cherry spots or cherry angioma are pinhead sized bright red spots mostly on the trunk. Strawberry patches or strawberry marks are bright red lesions seen in infants. Fibromas are rounded nodules usually light tan or brown. Dermatofibromas are also light brown rounded nodules. Epitheliomas are tan colored bumps or nodules. Keloid are scars that have outgrown the original scar and continue to grow larger. |
| diagnosis: | Based on signs, symptoms, history and exam. If a "benign" lesion undergoes changes, such as bleeding, changes color, has indistinct border, doesn't heal, a biopsy should be performed. |
| treatment: | Benign lesions do not need to be treated. If a lesion undergoes changes that are not characteristic of a benign nature, such as continues to grow, change color, bleeds, ulcerates, develops indistinct borders, becomes painful or itches, it should be evaluated. |
| prevention: | There is no prevention for benign lesions. |
| outcome: | Cured with removal of the growth. |
skynetMD suggests the following:
| if: | If the person has a benign lesion that begins to undergo a change, especially if that change does not appear to be benign, including if it bleeds, grows, changes color, changes borders, has indistinct borders, has an uneven contour, becomes painful, itches, ulcerates, doesn't heal |
| go to: | Go to the doctor. |
Last updated 7/25/2009