Lumps and Bumps on the Lids
- Posted on: Apr 21 2021
By Dr. Maximilian Padilla
Bumps frequently appear upon the eyelids. These eyelid lesions can pop up overnight or can slowly grow for years. They can be big, or small, and come in a multitude of colors.
In my career, I have started to classify bumps of the eyelids into three categories: Suspicious, low suspicion, and irritating to the patient.
The qualities of a suspicious lesion or bump are if it has grown quickly, there are decreased eyelashes around the bump, or if the spot has a pearly or indented appearance. These are usually best treated with a biopsy so that the pathologist, the medical specialist trained in the diagnosis of skin lesions, can diagnose the bump on a microscopic level. If the bump is skin cancer, it’s important to diagnose and treat these early, as the reconstruction is the easiest and has the lowest amount of recovery time for the patient.
Less worrisome eyelid lesions can develop slowly over time, and look like a skin tag found elsewhere on the body. These can be removed if the patient would like. It is oftentimes difficult to distinguish between benign or harmless lesions, and bumps that could be pre-cancerous so I am always very careful in my examinations. If a bump has all of the signs of a harmless spot, it can be easily removed in the office.
The third type of lesion is one that irritates you. These bumps may be the start of an infection or a sign that you are developing an allergic response or a medical condition that could use some extra attention from an eyelid expert.
The delicate yet extremely complex skin, muscle and tissues of the eyelids can be affected by a variety of factors that results in little lumps or bumps. It is important to have these looked at by a trained eyelid expert. The majority of the time they are harmless, but sometimes they may not be and it’s always important to catch those suspicious lesions early so they can be addressed.
If you notice a new bump on your eyelid or have had a bump for years that is irritating you please give us a call and I’ll be happy to see you at any of our offices.
Posted in: Eyelid Surgery, V-Eye-P