12 Small Bumps on Your Skin That Aren’t Acne (With Images)

If you’re like most people, you probably know what an acne breakout looks and feels like. But what if you notice small bumps on your face that don’t seem like acne? Maybe they have a different shape or texture than acne. Or maybe they last for months without going away.

Most of these skin bumps are harmless and nothing to worry about. But sometimes they can be a sign of something serious that needs treatment. 

Here are 12 types of small bumps on your face, along with some clues to look for. 

1. Sebaceous hyperplasia

Oil glands are common on the face, but sometimes they can become enlarged and form small yellow or brown bumps called sebaceous hyperplasia. In the center of the bump, you can usually see a tiny dent. It’s most common to have just one or two, but some people can have dozens at a time. 

Sebaceous hyperplasia is mainly caused by hormonal changes that happen as people get older. This is why they are common in women after menopause and in men in their 70s and older. 

Sebaceous hyperplasia isn’t cancerous, but sometimes it can look like skin cancer. So it’s important to have them checked by a dermatologist (skin doctor). They may need to do a skin biopsy to get it tested. Common ways they may remove sebaceous hyperplasia include:

• Using a laser

• Freezing it (cryosurgery)

• Cutting it out

2. Milia

If the bumps are smooth and white and they’re not going away, they may be milia. These are tiny cysts in the skin that tend to arise in groups. They can show up anywhere, but they’re most common on the cheeks, nose, and around the eyes. 

It’s not clear what causes milia. One theory is that they form when dead skin cells get trapped under new skin instead of falling off. 

Milia are common in infants and often called milk spots. But they can affect people of all ages and skin types. These harmless growths may go away on their own. In adults, you can try using gentle exfoliating creams or topical retinols to help them clear up.

3. Syringoma

Syringoma are noncancerous growths that form from sweat glands in your skin. They’re most common around the eyes or on the neck. They form small bumps that usually come in clusters. They can be yellow, brown, or pink in color. 

It’s not clear what causes syringomas. It could be a combination of factors, like hormonal changes, an injury to the skin, and autoimmune disorders. 

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Syringomas can affect people of all ages, but they usually start during adolescence. You don’t need to treat them. But, if you want to get rid of them, a dermatologist can remove them in an in-office procedure, such as:

• Laser therapy

• Dermabrasion

• Electrosurgery (a small electrical pulse)

4. Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum are harmless wart-like growths. They usually form pink, brown, or skin-colored smooth bumps with a central dimple. Sometimes they can be very itchy, and the skin around them can become red or irritated. 

Molluscum contagiosum is an infection caused by a virus, and they are contagious. They’re most common in children, but they can happen in adults, too. Molluscum can spread through close contact, including sexual contact. It can also be transmitted by touching objects, like towels or sheets, that have the virus on it. 

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Molluscum usually goes away on its own. But it can take months — and sometimes even years — to clear. You should see a dermatologist to get them treated. There are a number of ways they can be removed including:

• Medications like cantharidin (Ycanth) 

• Crysurgery (freezing)

• Curettage (cutting them away)

5. Impetigo

This is a very contagious skin infection that’s most common in children, but it can happen in adults, too. Impetigo can look like small, oozing blisters in its early phase. After 1 to 2 days, these blisters turn into a scab with yellow crusting. 

Impetigo is caused by bacteria that usually live on the skin. When there’s a break in the skin, such as from a scratch or other injury, the bacteria can get in and cause an infection. 

This can spread easily to other people through touching. So it’s important to treat it quickly with either antibiotic creams or pills.

6. Keratosis pilaris

Keratosis pilaris is a very common skin rash that produces tiny red, purple, or skin-colored bumps that feel rough. It’s sometimes referred to as “chicken skin” because of its look and feel. It’s most common on the upper arms or thighs, but it can also show up on the face (usually the cheeks). 

The exact cause of keratosis pilaris isn’t known. But it does run in families and is more likely in people with eczema.

No treatment is needed for keratosis pilaris. For many people, it improves with age. Moisturizing or exfoliating creams (like ammonium lactate or urea cream) can help reduce the bumps.

7. Cysts

Cysts are common, noncancerous growths under the skin. They usually appear like a smooth skin-colored bump that can be small or grow to the size of a quarter or larger. Sometimes they have a small central opening called a punctum. If cysts get infected or inflamed, they may turn red or violet and become painful. 

Cysts usually develop when hair follicles become clogged. This can happen for a number of reasons including:

• Inflammation (like from acne)

• Skin injury

• Genetic conditions

• Chronic sun damage

If a cyst causes symptoms or you don’t like the way it looks, a dermatologist can remove it with a minor in-office surgical procedure. Keep in mind that this procedure may leave a small scar.

8. Xanthelasma 

Xanthelasma are harmless, flat, yellowish growths that usually happen near or on the eyelids.  They’re made of cholesterol deposits that collect in the skin, and they usually don’t cause any symptoms. These spots are noncancerous. 

In some people, they can be a sign of an underlying health condition, like high cholesterol or diabetes. If you develop these growths, your dermatologist may suggest doing blood tests to make sure nothing else is going on. 

A dermatologist can remove xanthelasma with different procedures, including:

• Lasers

• Chemical peels

• Minor skin surgery

9. Moles

Moles are one of the most common skin growths, and most people will have one at some point in their life. They can be different sizes and colors, like pink, red, brown, or the color of your skin. 

These growths happen when melanocytes (the pigment-producing cells in the skin) grow together in a cluster. The exact cause of moles isn’t known. But factors that may contribute are your genetics and sun exposure (ultraviolet radiation). 

Most of the time, moles are completely harmless. But some may be more likely to turn into melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer. You should have a mole examined by a dermatologist if the mole has these “ABCDE” features:

• Asymmetry: The moles are irregularly shaped.

• Border: The mole’s border is uneven.

• Color: The mole has different shades of brown, tan, black, or blue.

• Diameter: The mole is bigger than 6 mm in diameter (the size of a pencil eraser).

• Evolving: You’ve noticed changes in the mole. 

Your dermatologist may remove a suspicious mole to test it for cancer. But never try to remove a mole by yourself.

10. Seborrheic keratosis / dermatosis papulosa nigra 

These growths can start showing up in your 20s and 30s. They’re usually tan or brown and can be small or grow to the width of a quarter. Their texture is rough or waxy, and people can have anywhere from one to dozens. 

In darker skin, seborrheic keratoses can cause many small, brown bumps on the face called dermatosis papulosa nigra. 

It’s not entirely clear what causes seborrheic keratoses, but genetics and sun exposure may play a role. 

Seborrheic keratoses aren’t cancerous, but sometimes they look like certain types of skin cancer. This means you may need to see a dermatologist, and even get a biopsy, to make sure it’s not something else.

11. Skin cancer

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. These bumps are typically the color of your skin. But they can be tan or brown, especially in darker skin. Sometimes BCC can look like a pimple, and they may bleed or be crusty. A BCC will get bigger over time and doesn’t go away on its own.

BCC is common in areas that get a lot of sun exposure, like the face. And it can happen in people of all skin colors. 

BCC is mainly caused by too much ultraviolet (UV) exposure from the sun and/or tanning beds. 

BCC needs treatment with surgery or medicated creams to remove the cancer.

12. Folliculitis

Folliculitis is inflammation of the hair follicles. Folliculitis causes bumps that are pink, brown, or full of pus. Folliculitis can happen anywhere you have hair, including your face. On the face, it usually occurs where there’s visible hair, like the hairline or the cheeks and neck in men.

Follicultis can be caused by a range of things that irritate the hair follicle, including:

• An infection (from bacteria or fungus)

• Irritation, for example, from shaving

• Hair follicle blockage

• Some skin diseases

To treat folliculitis, you need to treat the underlying cause. For example, if you have an infection, you may need to use a topical or oral antibiotic.

How to tell the difference between acne and other skin bumps

If you develop a red bump on your face, it’s important to know if it’s acne or something else. Here are a few clues to help you tell the difference:

• Acne pimples typically last for a few weeks before they get better and eventually clear.  

• Some acne pimples turn into pus-filled bumps that can be squeezed or popped (but popping causes more harm than good).

• When acne pimples are deep and inflamed, they can also be painful to the touch (unlike many other skin growths).

• A pimple doesn’t usually appear on its own. There’s often background whiteheads or blackheads, or other pimples that are also forming.  

When to get professional help

If you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, and your skin bump isn’t going away, then it’s a good idea to get checked out by your primary care provider, or a dermatologist.  

Here are some signs that your spot needs professional evaluation:

• It bleeds and doesn’t heal.

• It’s getting bigger or darker in color.

• There’s an open sore that doesn’t heal.

• It grows quickly.

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Written by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

Edited by:

Laurie Tarkan

Laurie Tarkan is a senior health editor for general health and well-being at GoodRx. She has an extensive background in health journalism, and wrote regularly for The New York Times for a decade.

Reviewed by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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