Dermatitis Skin Bumps and Spots

The majority of skin bumps, spots, growths, and moles are harmless. Colored skin spots, also called pigmented lesions such as freckles, moles, or flesh-colored skin spots, or growths including warts or skin tags may be present at birth or develop as the skin ages.

Some common skin growths include:

Moles. Most people have between 10 and 40 moles. You may continue to form new moles until you are in your 40s. Moles may change over time. They can gradually get bigger, develop a hair, become more raised, get lighter in color, fade away, or fall off.

Skin tags are harmless growths that appear in the skin folds on the neck, under the arms, under the breasts, or in the groin. They begin as small fleshy brown spots and may grow a small stalk. Skin tags never turn into skin cancer.

Seborrheic keratoses are harmless skin growths that are found most often on the chest or back, occasionally on the scalp, face, or neck, and are less common below the waist. They begin as slightly raised tan spots that develop a crusty appearance like that of a wart. Seborrheic keratoses never turn into skin cancer. For more information, see the topic Seborrheic Keratosis.

Treatment of a skin change depends on what is causing the skin change and what other symptoms you are having. Moles, skin tags, and other growths can be removed if they become irritated, bleed, or cause embarrassment.