Foot and Ankle Suspicious Growths Specialist Q&A

If you notice an abnormal skin growth on your foot, there are a couple of different things it could be, so it’s crucial to see a specialist to have it looked at.

Some common examples of abnormal skin growths on feet include:
 
Moles or skin tags: While these skin growths are usually harmless, they can occur on the feet or ankle and trigger alarm. To be safe, you should see a doctor about any new or abnormally shaped moles or skin tags.
Plantar warts: These are rough, grainy growths that occur on the soles of the feet. While these can cause discomfort and spread if untreated, removing plantar warts is typically straightforward.
Corns or calluses: Areas of thickened skin on the feet are known as calluses, while a similar condition on the toes is referred to as a corn. These develop due to prolonged friction or pressure.
Seborrheic keratosis: These growths are usually raised, brown, black, or light tan. Seborrheic keratosis is a common non-cancerous skin growth that can gradually occur with age.
Tumors: While rare, skin tumors can occur on the foot. If you notice anything unusual, it’s urged to see a podiatrist to have it assessed.

Depending on the characteristics of your abnormal skin growth, there may be cause to see a doctor. While in many cases skin growths on the feet are harmless and caused by pressure or friction, sometimes, red flags may be present. These include changes in color, bleeding, itching, discomfort, discharge, irregular border or rapid growth.
 
If you are concerned about your skin growth and believe it is more than a regular mole or callus, it’s urged to schedule a doctor’s appointment. By seeing a specialist, you can ensure that your skin growth is nothing to worry about or that it’s treated promptly and effectively.

No, not all suspicious cells are cancerous. If suspicious cells are found, further investigation is prompted. Through additional tests, the medical professional will be able to find out if the cells are malignant or benign. If there is a chance that your growth is cancerous, the doctor will perform a biopsy or imaging studies to determine what is the cause of the abnormality.
 
If there is a growth that you’re concerned about, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and show it to a doctor. This allows the healthcare professional to catch issues at an early, treatable stage. A majority of the time, abnormal skin growths on the feet are benign. For example, seborrheic keratosis is a common skin growth condition that affects many people as they get older.
 
Overall, we encourage you to come in to have any new, rapidly growing, or color-changing lesions checked out. Our team can diagnose the condition affecting you and treat it with the highest level of care.

If you have a suspicious lesion on the skin of your foot or ankle, you should schedule an appointment with a specialist at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates. It’s important to have any suspicious growths promptly examined to ensure the concerns are addressed at an optimal stage.
 
After a thorough physical examination of the lesion and discussion of your observations, the doctor may perform a biopsy procedure. This process involves the removal of skin cells from a suspicious growth to be examined under a microscope. Biopsies are used to determine whether skin cancer could be the cause of the growth. Alternatively, the biopsy could indicate that the growth is benign or non-cancerous.
 
If you notice a suspicious growth on your skin, Dr. John W. Scivally, DPM, and Dr. Robin K. Lie, DPM, can diagnose the cause and outline a comprehensive treatment plan designed with your needs and preferences in mind. Schedule an appointment today to have any abnormal skin growths thoroughly assessed. Our specialists will assist you. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Walnut Creek, CA, and Brentwood, CA. We serve patients from Walnut Creek CA, Brentwood CA, Concord CA, Pleasant Hill CA, Pittsburg CA, Antioch CA, Alamo CA, Danville CA, and Oakley CA.