What are those bumps on your face? Not all bumps and pimples are caused by acne. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between regular acne (acne vulgaris) and acne-like bumps. The bumps can be skin-colored or red or white. The bumps may be accompanied by other complaints such as itching, or not. If you’re not sure what’s going on with your skin, it’s always a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor to properly diagnose your skin condition.
- Causes of (itchy) bumps on the face
- Symptoms
- Bumps on the face due to acne
- Milia
- Blackheads
- Age warts
- Sebaceous gland hyperplasia
- Sebaceous cyst
- Subcutaneous bump
- What to do?
- White to yellow bumps due to xanthelasma
- When to consult a doctor?
Causes of (itchy) bumps on the face
Bumps on the face can be caused by various causes, from acne to an allergic reaction. If you do not know what causes the bumps and the symptoms persist or worsen, it is wise to consult your doctor. This can make a diagnosis and draw up a treatment plan.
Symptoms
Depending on the cause, facial bumps can vary in size and feel firm or soft. The color can vary from skin-colored, red or white. The overlying skin may be red or ulcerated. The bumps may or may not be painful or tender, depending on the cause of the lesions. Sometimes it is accompanied by itching and scratching effects.Acne vulgaris on the forehead / Source: Roshu Bangal, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-4.0)
Bumps on the face due to acne
Acne appears on many different parts of the body, such as the back, shoulders or chest, but facial acne is one of the most common forms. Acne is common and is caused by clogged or inflamed sebaceous glands. Acne is a harmless condition, but it can cause scarring and social stigma. Medicines can reduce acne and it is better not to use make-up.
Milia
Milia are small, white bumps that appear on various parts of the face and body. These bumps are filled with keratin. The exact cause is still unclear in 2023. For some people it can be a cosmetically disturbing condition, especially when large numbers are present. Milia are basically harmless and they often go away on their own over time. However, in extreme cases they can be removed by cryotherapy or freezing, laser treatment or dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is the abrasion or grinding of the outer layer (the epithelium) of the skin.
Blackheads
Blackheads also cause bumps or dots on the face and are an accumulation of horn mixed with sebum at the mouth of the hair follicle. Blackheads look like small black, white or skin-colored dots on the face, located on or around the nose. They give the skin a rough and uneven appearance. You can remove blackheads in various ways, such as nose strips, peel-off masks and comedone removers, but there are also creams and lotions with ingredients that reduce comedones.Age wart / Source: Lmbuga, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Age warts
Age warts range from dark brown to black and appear as if they are glued to the skin. Age warts are benign, which means that they are not skin cancer. An age wart usually appears as a brown, black, or light brown growth on the face, chest, shoulders, or back. The growth has a waxy, scaly, slightly raised appearance. They are normally painless and require no treatment from a medical point of view. You can have them removed if they become irritated by friction from clothing or for cosmetic reasons.
Sebaceous gland hyperplasia
Sebaceous gland hyperplasia is a benign condition in which benign growths occur at the exits of the sebaceous glands. When sebaceous glands enlarge, they push up to the surface of the skin, causing a white, yellowish, or skin-colored bump. The bumps can be either soft or hard. Because sebaceous gland hyperplasia is harmless, there is no compelling reason to treat it. But if the bumps bother you, they can be treated with prescription medications, laser treatment, or cryotherapy.
Sebaceous cyst
Subcutaneous bump
A sebaceous cyst is a white, yellow or flesh-colored, soft subcutaneous bump. They often appear on the face, neck or scalp, but can also develop on the shoulders or back. These cysts are like a small sac under the surface of the skin, filled with keratin (the protein that makes up your skin, hair and nails) or sebum. These cysts form around the sebaceous gland when the opening to the gland becomes blocked. Unlike sebaceous hyperplasia, where the bumps are firmly attached to the skin, sebaceous cysts move freely under the skin when you press on them. It feels like a small water balloon under the surface of the skin. Small sebaceous cysts usually do not hurt unless they become infected. Larger cysts may cause some pressure or pain.
What to do?
Sebaceous cysts often go away on their own, but they can also be treated by the doctor for cosmetic reasons or if they become infected or painful.Xanthelasma around the eyes / Source: Klaus D. Peter, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-3.0)
White to yellow bumps due to xanthelasma
Xanthelasma causes white to yellow bumps on the eyelids or around the eyes. Milia are also common around the eyes, but are dome-shaped. However, xanthelasma is irregular in shape. These bumps are sometimes called cholesterol bumps because they are made up of cholesterol deposits under the skin. People with xanthelasma often have high cholesterol levels in the blood. Xanthelasma will not go away on its own. The bumps themselves are not harmful, but you can have them treated for cosmetic reasons. They can be removed surgically, or by laser treatment or cryotherapy.
When to consult a doctor?
Contact your doctor in the following cases:
- the bumps appeared very quickly or covered a large area of your skin
- the bumps get bigger or spread
- the bump itches, bleeds or is painful
- you have had the bumps for a long time and they are not getting better
- you’re not sure what the bumps are
- you know what the bumps are, but you need prescription medication to treat them
read more
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- Bump on forehead: causes and symptoms of forehead swelling
- Skin condition nose: flaking, pain, sores, redness
- Skin disorders AZ: symptoms, cause and treatment
- Bumps on face: pimples on cheeks, chin and forehead