Lipoma

Lipoma

Lipomas are soft, fatty lumps that grow under your skin. They're harmless and don't usually need any treatment.

Check if you have a lipoma

Lipomas are common. They:

feel soft and squishy

can be anything from the size of a pea to a few centimetres across

may move slightly under your skin if you press them

aren't usually painful

often appear on your shoulders, chest, arms, back, bottom or thighs

grow slowly

Warts and Verrucas

Last Updated: 11 December 2018

Warts and verrucas are small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in their life. They usually go away on their own but may take months or even years. Warts do not cause you any harm but some people find them itchy, painful or embarrassing. Verrucas are more likely to be painful – like standing on a needle.

You can treat warts if they bother you, keep coming back or are painful. A pharmacist can help with warts and verrucas. You can buy creams, plasters and sprays from pharmacies to get rid of warts and verrucas.

Insect Bites and Stings

Most insect bites and stings are not serious and will get better within a few hours or days. But occasionally they can become infected, cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or spread serious illnesses such as Lyme disease and malaria.

Bugs that bite or sting include wasps, hornets, bees, horseflies, ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, bedbugs, spiders and midges.

Genital Warts

Genital warts is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on through vaginal, anal and, rarely, oral sex. Treatment from a sexual health clinic can help them go away.

What happens at a sexual health clinic

A doctor or nurse can usually diagnose warts by looking at them. They will:

• ask you about your symptoms and sexual partners
• look closely at the lumps around your genitals and anus
• possibly need to look inside your vagina, anus or urethra (where pee comes out) depending where your warts are.

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

It is normal to occasionally have a dry mouth if you are dehydrated or feeling nervous, but a persistently dry mouth can be a sign of an underlying problem. You must see your dentist or GP if you have an unusually dry mouth (known as xerostomia) so they can try to determine the cause.

What can cause a dry mouth?

A dry mouth can occur when the salivary glands in your mouth do not produce enough saliva. This is often the result of dehydration, which means you do not have enough fluid in your body to produce the saliva you need. It is also common for your mouth to become dry if you are feeling anxious or nervous.

Actinic keratoses (Solar Keratoses)

Photo showing actinic keratosis on the face.

Actinic keratoses, also known as solar keratoses, are rough patches of skin caused by damage from years of sun exposure. They are not usually a serious problem and can go away on their own, but it's important to get them checked as there is a chance they might turn into skin cancer at some point.