Due to its constant exposure to the elements, the skin on your face is especially vulnerable to skin changes, including growths, cancers and lesions. Small, skin-colored bumps on the face can indicate a variety of different conditions, most benign but some serious, that require medical evaluation. Your doctor can identify the cause of the bumps and recommend treatment options.
Types
The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that small, skin-colored bumps might simply be atypical moles or they might be other types of skin growths, including keratoacanthomas which are round, flesh-colored growths with a crater, seborrheic keratoses, wart-like spots common in older people, or trichoepithelioma, benign lesions that resemble basal cell carcinoma. Small, firm round bumps that appear to sit on tiny stalks might indicate molluscom contagiosum, a contagious viral infection.
Identification
Your doctor will use a visual examination of your skin, along with information from your medical history, to help him diagnose the cause of your skin bumps. He will also need background information on the bumps, including the time of their appearance and whether they itch or cause you pain. If he needs further information to diagnose the bumps, he might conduct other tests, such as a skin biopsy, in which he removes part of the skin and examines it under a microscope.
Considerations
Molluscom contagiosum can spread to other people or parts of your body so prompt treatment is critical to avoid further complications from the infection. Scratching or touching the infected spots, then touching other people can spread the infection, as can skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. The American Academy of Dermatology cautions that molluscom can also spread via contact with infected objects, such as clothing, toys or towels. Although the infection will eventually disappear on its own --usually within six months to a year -- your doctor can remove the bumps by cauterizing or freezing them if you elect to do so for cosmetic reasons.
Warning
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library indicates that many doctors consider keratoacanthomas a form of non-invasive squamous cell skin cancer. Since these growths can grow quickly and even metastasize, the AAD recommends treating them as soon as possible by surgically removing the growth and then evaluating them in a laboratory to check for malignancies.
Prevention/Solution
Atypical moles, bumps, growths and lesions on your face can develop into more serious conditions, including skin cancer, if left untreated. To prevent complications from skin cancer, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends performing regular self-exams, in which you evaluate your own skin for signs of changes. If you notice any new moles, bumps or skin discolorations, visit your dermatologist for an evaluation. In people who have a family history of skin cancer, numerous moles or a history of sun exposure, the AAD suggests visiting the dermatologist once a year for a skin cancer screening.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Skin Growths and Pigmentation Disorders
- FamilyDoctor.org: Skin Rashes and Other Changes
- American Academy of Dermatology: Common Growths
- American Academy of Dermatology: Molluscum Contagiosum
- Merck Manuals: Keratoacanthomas
- American Academy of Dermatology: Skin Cancer
