Cited Research
Most adults will develop at least one soft, mobile lump beneath the skin in their lifetime. The two most common are lipomas and epidermoid (often miscalled 'sebaceous') cysts. Telling them apart at home is possible — but the surgical approach is different for each.
Lipoma: soft, deep, and never inflamed
A lipoma is a benign collection of mature fat cells. It feels soft, doughy, and slides easily under the skin. It does not have a central pore and does not become inflamed. Removal is simple, performed under local anesthesia, with minimal scarring when planned along skin tension lines.
Epidermoid cyst: firmer, often with a visible pore
These cysts develop from a blocked hair follicle and contain keratin. The classic give-away is a small central punctum visible on the surface. They can become inflamed or infected, in which case removal is staged: drain first, excise the cyst wall later, to prevent recurrence.
When 'a lump' is something else
- Hard, fixed, painless: needs imaging before any surgical decision.
- Rapidly enlarging over weeks: imaging plus possible biopsy.
- Reddened, warm, painful: likely infection or inflamed cyst.
- Pulsatile: vascular — never excised without imaging first.
References & Further Reading
This article is general information about procedures we perform. It is not medical advice and does not replace an assessment by a physician who has examined you. Individual results, risks and recovery vary.