---
title: "Benign Growths"
---
## Harmless spots that can look worrying
As skin ages, new growths appear. Most are completely harmless. The catch is that a few of them can look like a wart, a precancerous spot or even skin cancer, [1] so it's worth having new growths checked.
### Common benign growths
- Seborrheic keratoses: tan to brown growths that can look warty or like a dab of candle wax on the skin [1]
- Skin tags: small, soft flaps of skin, often on the neck, underarms or eyelids
- Cherry angiomas: small, bright red spots made up of blood vessels [2]
- Dermatofibromas: firm, small bumps, often on the legs
- Dermatosis papulosa nigra: small dark bumps, a form of seborrheic keratosis that's very common in darker skin [3]
- Sebaceous hyperplasia: small bumps that form when oil glands in the skin get bigger [4]
- Lipomas: soft, movable lumps of fat under the skin (for lumps filled with skin cells, see cysts)
- Harmless Seborrheic keratoses may look worrisome, but they're harmless. [1]
## Why growths appear
1. Age Most people get seborrheic keratoses in middle age or later, [1] and cherry angiomas are most common after 30. [2]
2. Family traits Cherry angiomas tend to run in families. [2]
3. Friction Skin tags often form where skin rubs against skin or clothing.
- After 30 When cherry angiomas become most common. [2]
## Harmless growth, or something to check?
Usually harmlessWorth a closer lookLooks like your other spotsLooks different from the restStays the same over timeIs new, growing or changing [2]Waxy, "stuck-on" surfaceBleeds, itches or won't healSoft skin tag that movesA dark or multicolored spot with uneven edges
If a growth is new or changing, have it checked. See [changing moles](/concerns/suspicious-moles/) for the warning signs, or book a [skin cancer screening](/treatments/skin-cancer-screening/).
## Where benign growths show up
AreaCommon growthsChest and backSeborrheic keratoses, cherry angiomasNeck and underarmsSkin tagsFace and scalpSeborrheic keratosesLegsDermatofibromas
## Real results from patients
The Paz difference
## Peace of mind comes first
Because some harmless growths look like skin cancer, [1] an experienced eye matters. Here, your provider examines each growth, tells you plainly what it is, and checks the rest of your skin while you're there.
- Not contagious Seborrheic keratoses can't spread to other people. [1]
## When to see us
### Book an appointment if:
- You notice a new growth and aren't sure what it is
- A growth catches on clothing, jewelry or a razor
- A growth bothers you
### Book soon if a growth:
- Is new, changing or growing [2]
- Bleeds, itches or won't heal
- Looks different from your other spots
## Keeping an eye on your skin
- Check your skin once a month, front and back, with a mirror
- Note any new or changing spots
- Protect your skin from the sun every day
- Don't try to cut off skin tags or growths at home
## How we care for growths here
Benign growths are evaluated in a regular medical visit. Your provider confirms what each growth is. If one catches on clothing, gets irritated or bothers you, it can usually be removed right in the office by freezing it with cryotherapy, burning it off or shaving it off. [2] [5] [6] Small bumps like dermatosis papulosa nigra and sebaceous hyperplasia can be reduced the same way. [4] See [Medical Dermatology](/medical-dermatology/) for what a medical visit covers.
## What treatment costs
Evaluating growths is medical care, and it's handled differently from the cosmetic treatments on this site. Our office walks you through what applies to you when you book.
Common typesSeborrheic keratoses, skin tags, cherry angiomasCancerousNo, but some look like skin cancer [1]ContagiousNo [1]Most commonWith age [1] [2]WhereOur Fresno and Visalia offices
## Growth questions, answered
**Q: Are seborrheic keratoses cancer?**
No. They're harmless, even though they can look like skin cancer. [1]
**Q: Do cherry angiomas need treatment?**
Usually not. They're noncancerous and generally don't harm your health. [2]
**Q: Can I remove a skin tag at home?**
It's safer not to. Cutting it can cause bleeding and infection, and it's best to confirm it's really a skin tag. Your provider can remove it in the office instead. [6]
**Q: Why do I keep getting more?**
Most benign growths become more common with age, and some run in families. [1] [2]
**Q: When should a growth worry me?**
If it's new, changing or looks different from the rest, have it checked. [2]
**Q: Are these growths contagious?**
No. Seborrheic keratoses are not contagious. [1]
## References
[Seborrheic keratoses: Overview](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/seborrheic-keratoses-overview)
[Cherry angioma](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001441.htm)
[Seborrheic Keratosis](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21721-seborrheic-keratosis)
[Sebaceous Hyperplasia](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22670-sebaceous-hyperplasia)
[Seborrheic keratoses: Diagnosis and treatment](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/seborrheic-keratoses-treatment)
[Skin Tags (Acrochordons)](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21528-skin-tags-acrochordons)
Content on this page is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any new, changing or unusual growth should be examined. Individual results may vary.
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