![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/99815369-14856503-image-m-24_1751120374052.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAs the human body\u2019s largest organ, it\u2019s no surprise that an endless number of things can go wrong with your skin.<\/p>\n
There are the lumps and bumps that can appear out of nowhere, the myriad of shapes and colours of moles, freckles, warts and patches of skin which may turn darker or become dry and crusty.<\/p>\n
The key, however, is knowing when it\u2019s something you need to worry about \u2013 and when you can safely leave it alone.<\/p>\n
That isn\u2019t always straightforward. The skin is overwhelmingly complex, with multiple layers forming a protective barrier against things such as pollution and UV rays. The barrier prevents loss of moisture too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The skin also has its delicate network of blood vessels, which help supply the layers with oxygen and nutrients. Unsurprisingly, reference books used by doctors to help diagnose skin conditions are as big as encyclopaedias.<\/p>\n
There are thought to be about 3,000 skin conditions \u2013 not all cancerous. Some are related to sun exposure or normal ageing; others are linked to different health problems.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dr Harper-Machin is a spokeswoman for the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons<\/p>\n
As a consultant plastic surgeon of 20 years, in my own NHS<\/a> clinic where I regularly remove all types of skin cancer<\/a>, I\u2019ve probably seen only a fraction of them. While in my private clinic I\u2019ve also operated on all sorts of benign skin complaints for cosmetic reasons as well as for serious cancers like melanoma.<\/p>\n And though there isn\u2019t space here to discuss everything that can go wrong, we certainly can explore the most common things you\u2019ll come up against.<\/p>\n So here is my ultimate guide \u2013 which should help you work out what you can do about those problematic skin issues, when to worry and when to seek medical help.<\/p>\n Sometimes it\u2019ll be just about putting your mind at ease, but it could also save your life\u2026<\/p>\n I\u2019VE GOT CRUSTY BROWN PATCHES ON MY SKIN \u2013 IS IT CANCER?<\/p>\n Most brown patches on the skin are nothing to worry about. Often they\u2019re linked to an overgrowth of keratin \u2013 a protein that helps form the skin\u2019s outer layer and is constantly regenerating.<\/p>\n Too much keratin can cause keratosis, where the excess clogs your pores and leads to bumps or thick, scaly, dry patches.<\/p>\n There are different variants of the condition, and while most are common some are considered precancerous so need to be treated.<\/p>\n The ones you don\u2019t need to worry about are seborrheic keratoses \u2013 benign growths affecting half of men and more than a third of women. Ranging in colour from pink to brown to almost black, they may appear waxy and slightly raised \u2013 people often say they look like they\u2019ve been stuck on. They can grow, but are harmless and don\u2019t need treatment (though you can have them removed privately if their appearance bothers you).<\/p>\n However, if they appear very dark, get them checked to rule out melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.<\/p>\n The ones you don\u2019t need to worry about are seborrheic keratoses \u2013 benign growths affecting half of men and more than a third of women<\/p>\n More worrisome are actinic keratoses \u2013 also called solar keratoses \u2013 dry, scaly patches that feel rough, like sandpaper.<\/p>\n Other dark patches that aren\u2019t a concern include liver spots, or age spots \u2013 flat areas of darkened skin that resemble large freckles. Once thought to signal liver problems, we now know they\u2019re caused by sun damage, which prompts the skin to produce extra melanin \u2013 the pigment that determines skin colour.<\/p>\n More worrisome are actinic keratoses \u2013 also called solar keratoses \u2013 dry, scaly patches that feel rough, like sandpaper.<\/p>\n About 10 per cent become squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) \u2013 more on this later.<\/p>\n These patches are usually 1cm\u20132.5cm wide and tend to appear on sun-exposed areas such as the face, hands, arms, scalp and legs. They may match your skin or be pink, red or brown.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s one patch and it\u2019s painless, a GP might suggest waiting to see if it disappears. But if there are several, or it\u2019s painful, you\u2019ll be referred to a dermatologist.<\/p>\n Treatment options include prescription creams, minor surgery under local anaesthetic, or cryotherapy to freeze them off.<\/p>\n As with all skin problems, you can protect yourself by wearing at least SPF 30, covering up with a hat and loose clothing, and avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm.<\/p>\n WHEN SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT A MOLE, BUMP OR GROWTH?<\/p>\n Despite what you might think, most moles are absolutely nothing to worry about \u2013 from big knobbly ones and unsightly hairy ones to the small red ones.<\/p>\n Almost everyone develops between ten and 45 during childhood and adolescence (though some people are genetically predisposed to have more), and they\u2019re simply growths formed when melanocytes \u2013 the cells that produce skin pigment \u2013 grow in clusters.<\/p>\n They can be brown, pink, black, tan \u2013 even blue \u2013 and be wrinkled, smooth, raised or flat. They appear anywhere: trunk, armpits, under nails, between toes.<\/p>\n Most moles are absolutely nothing to worry about \u2013 from big knobbly ones and unslightly hairy ones to the small red ones<\/p>\n Most don\u2019t require attention unless you dislike how they look (the NHS won\u2019t remove them for cosmetic reasons, but private clinics will). Some people worry about little red moles, but these are just cherry angiomas \u2013 harmless clusters of blood vessels that commonly appear after the age of 30. It\u2019s also normal for moles to change or fade over time.<\/p>\n Some women find that theirs darken or enlarge due to hormonal changes in teenage years, pregnancy or menopause.<\/p>\n So when should you worry?<\/p>\n The main concern is melanoma \u2013 the skin cancer that affects 16,700 people a year in the UK and causes more than 2,300 deaths.<\/p>\n Melanomas vary, but a key rule is to watch for any mole that\u2019s changed in size, shape, outline, if it has scabbed or started bleeding.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t be fobbed off if you\u2019re told you\u2019re \u2018too young\u2019 to get melanoma. I have treated several children with melanoma \u2013 and on my surgical list last week were women in their 30s who\u2019d previously been reassured by GPs.<\/p>\n Pay attention if you\u2019re fair-skinned, have more than 50 moles, or have used tanning beds. A weakened immune system can also raise your risk.<\/p>\n The main cause for concern is melanoma. These vary but a key rule is to watch for any mole that’s change in size, shape, outline, if it has scabbed or started bleeding<\/p>\n VIRAL LUMPS THAT HAVE OVER-THE-COUNTER TREATMENTS<\/p>\n Warts are extremely common growths caused by a viral infection called human papillomavirus, or HPV.<\/p>\n They\u2019re skin-coloured bumps, round or oval-shaped, that appear anywhere but most often on the hands and feet.<\/p>\n They look different from moles, often with a rough, cauliflower-like surface and tiny black dots \u2013clotted blood vessels.<\/p>\n Other types include plane warts \u2013 which are flat, yellow and may appear in clusters \u2013 or mosaic warts that grows in groups on the bottom of your feet.<\/p>\n Warts on the soles of the feet are known as verrucae but are essentially the same thing.<\/p>\n Warts are extremely common growths caused by the HPV virus. They can be itchy or embarrassing \u2013 but the good news is that they aren’t harmful<\/p>\n The good news: they\u2019re not harmful. While some strains of HPV are linked to cervical or head and neck cancers, the strain that causes warts is different.<\/p>\n They can be itchy or embarrassing, but are easily treated with over-the-counter remedies. Various creams, plasters and sprays are available from pharmacies, but treatment may take several months. GPs can also freeze them off.<\/p>\n Skin tags are often mistaken for warts or moles.<\/p>\n These soft, skin-coloured growths tend to appear where the skin folds or rubs \u2013 under the arms, around the bottom or on the neck.<\/p>\n See a GP if they bleed, grow or become painful \u2013 but removal is considered cosmetic and not offered on the NHS.<\/p>\n SCALY PATCHES WHICH CAN BE MORE DEADLY THAN MELANOMA<\/p>\n While we\u2019re aware that moles can turn cancerous, less obvious are other minor skin complaints that may indicate non-melanoma skin cancers.<\/p>\n A persistent spot that doesn\u2019t clear within several weeks, and may intermittently bleed or crust, should be checked as it could be a basal cell carcinoma \u2013 BCC.<\/p>\n Similarly, a scar-like mark that itches.<\/p>\n We often dismiss these signs \u2013 blaming glasses, shaving or gardening \u2013 because they\u2019re subtle and slow-growing. But unlike acne or minor injuries, they won\u2019t heal.<\/p>\n Thought to start in hair follicles, BCCs are especially common on the nose, which gets a lot of sun and has a high concentration of follicles.<\/p>\n Fortunately, they\u2019re treatable. You may only need a mild chemotherapy cream like Efudix, or an immune-boosting cream. Surgery is an option if creams fail.<\/p>\n A persistent spot that doesn\u2019t clear within several weeks, and may intermittently bleed or crust, should be checked as it could be a basal cell carcinoma \u2013 BCC<\/p>\n Squamous cell carcinomas \u2013 SCCs \u2013\u00a0may begin as red, scaly patches but can ulcerate, become lumpy, painful and weepy. They are increasingly common<\/p>\n While BCCs grow slowly, squamous cell carcinomas \u2013 SCCs \u2013 do not.<\/p>\n These may begin as red, scaly patches but can ulcerate, become lumpy, painful and weepy. They may mimic cysts or infections \u2013 I\u2019ve seen patients given several rounds of antibiotics with no effect.<\/p>\n Historically, SCCs have been overlooked when compared to melanomas \u2013 but that must change. As melanoma treatment has improved, more of my patients now die from SCCs than melanoma. They\u2019re increasingly common, particularly among the \u2018baby boomer\u2019 generation who embraced cheap foreign holidays.<\/p>\n A useful trick: apply Vaseline to dry patches \u2013 if the dryness clears, it\u2019s likely benign. But if it persists, is painful or enlarging, press your GP to consider diagnosing SCC. In about 80 per cent of cases, it\u2019s treatable with creams and surgery. But in the other 20 per cent, if not caught early, treatment may no longer be life-saving.<\/p>\n SKIN CONDITIONS THAT DON\u2019T MAKE CANCER MORE LIKELY<\/p>\n Common skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can be painful and disfiguring but today there are treatments which can offer relief \u2013 so don\u2019t suffer in silence.<\/p>\n Both affect millions, and can cause red, itchy and inflamed dry skin which is linked, in different ways, to an overactive immune system.<\/p>\n Common skin conditions such as eczema (pictured) and psoriasis can be painful and disfiguring but today there are treatments which can offer relief<\/p>\n They can be mistaken for each other, but psoriasis involves thicker scaly patches on the skin, while eczema can look like a rash with bumps, crusty patches and sometimes oozing. The good news is that neither skin condition makes cancer more likely.<\/p>\n In the first instance, emollient and topical steroid creams can hydrate the skin and reduce dryness and inflammation. Exposing the skin to UV light, known as phototherapy, may also be used.<\/p>\n But for severe cases, dermatologists can prescribe tablets or injections which help suppress the immune system.<\/p>\n Don’t panic over face blemishes in pregnancy<\/p>\n Pregnant women might be concerned by brown or greyish patches which can develop on their skin \u2013 often on the face.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n But this is melasma, a harmless condition which is thought to develop partly because of hormonal changes during pregnancy, but also from taking the contraceptive pill or HRT. Stress can also be a trigger.<\/p>\n It\u2019s thought the changes cause skin cells to over-produce melanin, which alters the colour of the skin in some places. As many as 50 per cent of pregnant women can be affected \u2013 and it can be upsetting.<\/p>\n While for some it may go away a few months after giving birth, there is no cure. You should use a high-factor sun cream to prevent new patches, and treatments such as skin lightening creams, laser therapy, chemical peels and tranexamic acid \u2013 a drug used to control heavy periods which also blocks melanin production \u2013 can improve symptoms.<\/p>\n SMALL ‘SCAB’ WAS A TUMOUR\u00a0 <\/p>\n When Julie Bowie found a small lump on her right leg last year, just above her ankle, she assumed it was an ingrowing hair.<\/p>\n It hurt, and was about the size of a penny \u2013 but the 58-year-old hairdresser, from Kent, recalls how within weeks it had formed a scab and then turned into a \u2018volcano\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018It developed a hole in the middle with sides that were white and puffy, before forming another scab again,\u2019 recalls Julie.<\/p>\n Julie Bowie, 58, a hairdresser from Kent. She found a lump above her ankle which turned out to be a squamous cell carcinoma<\/p>\n It was only when visiting her GP for an unrelated matter in September that she happened to mention the lump.<\/p>\n She was immediately given an urgent referral to a dermatologist, who diagnosed her with a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) \u2013 a type of skin cancer caused by an overproduction of squamous cells, which are found in the top layer of the skin.<\/p>\n Two weeks later it was surgically removed under local anaesthetic.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m left with a big hole in my leg and I needed a skin graft,\u2019 she says. \u2018But I\u2019m lucky and I need no further treatment.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m on a Facebook group for people with SCCs and they\u2019re not always so fortunate. Some wait for a long time before being diagnosed.<\/p>\n \u2018As a hairdresser, I\u2019m now always telling people to get various lumps on their heads checked out. Don\u2019t ignore anything that\u2019s unusual.\u2019<\/p>\n Dr Harper-Machin is a spokeswoman for the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.<\/p>\n Visit bapras.org.uk for patient information guides on benign skin conditions and skin cancer. The charity Skcin (skcin.org) also has information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the human body\u2019s largest organ, it\u2019s no surprise that an endless number of things can go wrong…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":223064,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[92,105,211,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-223063","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-dailymail","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-nhs","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114764753861867357","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223063\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/223064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/99815319-14856503-image-m-26_1751120424952.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"More](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/99815339-14856503-More_worrisome_are_actinic_keratoses_also_called_solar_keratoses-a-1_1751159212515.jpeg\")
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