Patient Education

Cysts are one of the most common benign skin growths. A cyst consists of a sac or enclosed capsule filled with fluid or semisolid material. Typically, they present as round or dome shaped, nodules or lumps on or underneath the skin. The overlying skin can be unchanged or can have a small opening or punctum.

Dermatofibromas are common, benign skin growths most typically found on legs of women. They present as a pinkish brown, firm, scar-like bump. Sometimes, their appearance is attributed to a preceding insect bite, ingrown hair, or other minor injury or trauma. As the skin growths are harmless, no treatment

A hypertrophic scar is a thickened, raised, oftentimes pink or red scar. Hypertrophic scars can be symptomatic - causing burning, itching, or discomfort. These thickened, raised scars are more likely to occur in areas where there is significant tension on a healing wound; examples include the back, chest,

An infantile hemangioma is a kind of vascular tumor made up of blood vessels, commonly referred to as a “strawberry birthmark.” The vascular tumor can be superficial (growing on the skin surface), appearing as a bright red, bumpy, lesion. It can also be deep (growing under the skin), presenting as

Keloids are thick, firm, hard growths that occur as a result of excessive scar tissue formation. They differ from ordinary scars and hypertrophic scars in that the scar tissue extends and spreads beyond the original wound margin. Rarely, these growths can occur spontaneously, even without any preceding

Lipomas are common fatty tumors that present as soft or rubbery, lumps or bumps underneath the skin that are easily moved. They can occur as a solitary lesion or as multiple lesions (oftentimes occurring in families). Lipomas can occur anywhere on the body where fat tissue is present, but are most common