If you have found something new or seemingly strange on your skin, you are not alone. People discover new moles, growths and spots on their skin all the time. Most of the time, these new spots are totally benign. Other times, they are unsightly and people want to have them removed. Are you worried about the way your skin looks? This guide will help you identify some of these common skin issues.

1. Skin Tags

Skin tags are small growths that look like pieces of skin hanging off you. They are commonly located near the groin, armpits and eyelids because these are areas that are easily irritated from rubbing against other skin.

The good news is that skin tags are not at all harmful, and they can be removed if they bother you. The dermatologist can freeze or cut tags, but sometimes they also rub away on their own. The dermatologist will simply use local anaesthesia to remove the skin tag.

2. Cysts

Cysts are typically harmless pockets of tissue that may be filled with liquid, usually pus. In most cases, cysts are not painful. They are also more commonly found in hair follicles.

Fortunately, most cysts disappear on their own. Problems arise when the cyst bursts or is accompanied by symptoms like pain. You can make your cysts more comfortable by applying a warm cloth to the affected area.

3. Hives

Hives are itchy welts that appear like red splotches on the skin. If you have hives, you may notice that they tend to come and go, even throughout the day. This is because hives are typically linked to allergies.

Most cases of hives come and go for about six weeks. Removing the allergen from your life is one way to see the hives disappear. These may include fruits, dairy products, eggs, shellfish, nuts, medications, insect bites, pollen and latex. Other causes include sun exposure, illness, stress and chemical contact.

4. Seborrheic Keratosis

While you may not have heard of them, seborrheic keratosis spots are extremely common. These growths may be the same colour of your skin but are occasionally a different shade of beige, black or brown.

These growths may be alarming because while they are not cancerous, they can look like skin cancer. Your dermatologist can test the growth for cancer after removing it to confirm that it is benign. Cryosurgery and electrosurgery can remove the growth.

5. Boils

Boils are small lumps that actually look more like pimples than anything else. While they may be painful, boils are usually infections of hair follicles.

Boils are unpredictable. Pus may drain out of them, or they may change in size.

Treatment is often taken care of at home with a hot pack or soak in warm water several times a day. In rare cases, as with people who are immunocompromised, you should go to a dermatologist if you have boils.

6. Cherry Angioma

Cherry angioma consists of small bumps and blood vessels, and it is usually found in individuals over the age of 30. These growths are benign but appear as bright red marks. They may look like bright red moles sticking out of the skin.

If you want cherry angioma to be treated, dermatologists are willing to help for cosmetic reasons. Electrocauterisation, excision and laser surgery are all common methods of removing the mark. If you notice changes in the mole, you should tell the dermatologist so that they can perform a biopsy.

Do you want to make an appointment to determine what your moles, spots or lumps are? Darwin Dermatology can help you diagnose and treat potential issues and give you peace of mind.