A lump on finger or finger joint is usually small (pea sized), hard and painful that protrudes under the skin. It is a sign of various conditions, but finger joint lump is typically due to ganglion cysts. This post presents facts, pictures, causes, signs and symptoms of finger lump. Also, it highlights how to get rid of and prevent this condition, diagnosis, treatments and home remedies.
Signs and Symptoms of Lump on Finger or Finger Joints
A lump on your finger may appear because of several factors. It might be a sign of either harmless or serious underlying condition such as arthritis and cancer. However, most of the bump that develops on fingers are symptoms of a benign condition such as injuries and non-cancerous growth.
The bumps on your finger may appear in different signs and symptoms. They can appear as hard raised spots or soft bump depending on the causal factor. Also, they can develop under the skin or above the skin surface.
In addition, the lump can appear anywhere on your fingers. They can develop on base, tips, front and back parts of the fingers. Occasionally, a lump can appear near to the fingernail, above the fingernail and on the joints of your fingers.
The common signs and symptoms that are usually characterized by a lump on finger include:
- Small, pea-sized or large bump on the finger
- Single or numerous lumps of the finger
- Hard, bony or soft lump under the skin of the finger
- Red, pink, brown, yellow, white or skin colored lump on the fingers
- Painless and not itchy bump on the skin of the finger
- Itchy, painful or burning lump
- Fluid-filled bump, sore or blister on the finger
- Redness and tenderness of the skin on your finger
Other than the above symptoms, a lump on your finger may also accompany other strange symptoms such as the swollen wrist, the inflamed palm of the hand, bleeding sores and others. If you notice any strange symptoms associated with a lump on your finger, visit the dermatologist for medical diagnosis and treatment.
Lump on Finger Joint Photos
How do a lump on finger joint look like? To see how it might appear, we have included illustrative photos or pictures of the different type of bumps on finger joints. These photos might have a slight difference from your actual vision of your skin condition due to natural variation that exists.
You may use these photos to get a clue about the health condition of your finger. However, you should not rely on the picture as a source of reference to self-diagnosis and treatment without seeking medical assistance from your doctor.
Causes of Lump on Finger
Your finger can develop a lump or bump due to various factors or causes. These causes range from harmless to more serious health condition. Example of harmless causes is non- cancerous lumps that are painless and they cannot advance into health complications.
Unlike harmless causes, your finger might develop a lump as an indication of a serious health condition such as cancer and arthritis. This usually requires medical treatment and you are advised to visit your doctor to help you in diagnosis and treatment.
Some of the causes of a lump on finger include the following:
1. Ganglion cysts
The others names of ganglion cysts are called synovial cyst or mucous cyst. These lumps usually develop on finger joints next to tendons. The ganglion cysts on fingers are always characterized by bumps that are filled with very thick fluid.
They can be hard or soft. Its sizes may vary from small bump to large lump that looks worrisome. Too large ganglion may press over the nerve under the skin surface and causes a lot of pain to the affected area of your finger.
The main cause of ganglion cysts on the fingers is not clearly known by the experts. However, the condition is correlated with the inflammation of the tendon and tissue that are located at the joint of your fingers.
You can remove a lump on finger caused by ganglion cyst by visiting your doctor to help in diagnosis and treatment. The doctor may diagnose the bump with the help of X-ray images to confirm the type and contents of the bump.
After diagnosis, the doctor may drain out the thick synovial fluid from the bump with the help of needle and syringe. Alternatively, the doctor may perform a surgical procedure to get rid of the large mass of tissue and fluids inside the ganglion cysts.
2. Calluses
Calluses are thickened or hardened skin large that develop into a bump. These bumps typical may develop on the bottom of your finger. However, they can occur anywhere on your finger and palm of the hand.
Basically, calluses are caused by friction on your finger. It occurs after handling hard object that rubs your finger to cause friction and skin damage. They initial develop as fluid-filled blisters and after few days the form thickened skin larger.
The size and shape of the calluses depend on the magnitude of the friction and pressure applied on your finger. More friction on your finger will automatically lead to the large growth of calluses on the skin of your finger.
A lump on finger caused by calluses needs not treatment. This bump can go away on its own by time without any treatment. For your interest and cosmetic reasons, you can remove it surgically with the help of your doctor.
You can prevent calluses bump on your finger by wearing gloves to protect the skin of your finger when you are handling tough object. Also, ensure you try to pad the handles of tools or equipment that you often use.
3. Arthritis
Your finger may develop a lump as a consequence of arthritis. This is a bone disorder that leads to the growth of lump or bumps typically around your joints. The joint of your fingers are the potential point that might develop lumps of arthritis.
There is two main type of arthritis that can lead to a lump on your finger. They include rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis as also abbreviated as RA. This is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when your body immune system produces a substance that attacks the tissues that are located on your joints on fingers, hand, and legs.
The condition of rheumatoid arthritis is usually associated with symptoms of redness, tenderness and inflamed tissue in the joint area. Occasionally, it can lead to painful lump or bumps under the skin on joint areas.
The lump on finger caused by rheumatoid arthritis may also cause difficulties to straighten your finger, severe pain on the wrist and finger knuckles.
Osteoarthritis
This type of arthritis typically affects bone or cartilage of the joints. The condition is usually characterized by the growth of bony or hard bumps specifically in the middle of the joint of the fingers. The lump can also develop near the fingernail.
You can manage and treat lumps of arthritis with the help of your doctor. Your doctor will give you diagnosis and treatment depending on the causes of arthritis. These are because there are several underlying conditions that might lead to arthritis such as infection, an autoimmune condition, and others.
4. Skin tumors
A lump on finger could be the skin tumors. There are different types of skin tumors that include cancerous tumor and non-cancerous tumor.
Non- cancerous tumor
These are the benign growth of lump under the skin of your finger that is not symptoms of cancer. The common types of harmless bumps that can develop on your fingers include lipoma lump and skin tags on the finger.
Lipoma: This is a painless and harmless bump that may develop under your skin due to the accumulation of fatty tissue.
Skin tag: it is a raised spot that develops from the extension of the skin. It usually appears like a hanging lump on your skin.
Cancerous tumor
In a rare case, your finger may develop chronic firm cyst or lump as a result of cancer. Melanoma is a type of cancer that can lead to a painful malignant growth or bump that develop into a large mass that looks worrisome.
Cancer is a life-threatening condition that you should seek the help of your doctor for diagnosis and treatment once you notice strange symptoms.
5. Other skin condition
A lump on finger may appear due to other types of skin conditions. There are several types of skin infection or conditions that can lead to bump of your fingers and other parts of your body. Some of these conditions include:
Scabies: it is caused by parasitic mites that lead to itchy bumps on the finger
Eczema: This is a chronic autoimmune disorder that may lead to the development of red itchy bumps on your finger that ooze and crust over
Insect bites: the skin of your finger may develop red itchy lump after bites from mosquitos, bed bugs, spiders, mites, and fleas.
Painful Lump on Finger or Finger Joints
What causes a painful lump on fingers at the joints? This is one of the questions that might come into your mind when you notice that your finger has a painful lump on the joints. You are in the appropriate section of the post the will answer your question.
The common causes that can lead to a painful lump on joints of your fingers are arthritis and cancer. These are a serious condition that you should go for medical diagnosis and treatment in case you notice a painful bump on your finger joints.
Hard Lump on Finger Joint Under Skin
The development of hard lump on your finger at the joint under the skin surface can occur as a result of arthritis and cancer. The condition of arthritis on finger joints can lead to bony growth that develops from cartilage of the joint of fingers.
On the other hand, hard lump of cancer can show up deep under the skin of your fingers. Sometimes the bump may develop into a chronic large mass that comes above the skin surface.
Home Remedies for Lump on Finger
You can treat a lump on your finger using natural home remedies. These remedies may work effectively to treat bumps that are caused by minor causes such as ganglion, calluses and mild injuries. Try the following treatments:
1. Hot compress
Hot compressing the lump on your fingers is an excellent home remedy that can help to relieve the inflammation. The warm temperature can help to increase blood circulation to the affected area and this can help to relieve swellings.
How to use:
- Soak a washcloth into warm water in a basin
- Use the washcloth to hot compress the affected parts of your fingers that have a lump
- Repeat to hot compress it three times daily for few weeks until the lump on your finger go away
2. Massaging
Massaging your finger with essential oil such coconut oil can help to reduce the size of the bump on your finger. The process of massaging may help to spread the content of the lump on your finger to initiate the healing.
How to use:
- Get an essential oil
- Place few drops to the affected area
- Gently massage the affected skin that has a lump with the palm of the hand
- Repeat this procedure three times daily until the bump on your finger go away
3. Garlic
You can use garlic juice as a home remedy that can help to cure a lump on finger. Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to relieve swollen bumps on your fingers.
How to use:
- Get one clove of garlic and mix it with one cup of warm water
- Allow it to stand for 20 minutes
- Drink the garlic juice
- Alternatively, include a clove of garlic in your daily meal diet
4. Apple cider vinegar
Drinking one glass of apple cider vinegar daily is an effective home remedy that can help to cure a lump on your finger. Apple cider vinegar has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help to ease swollen bumps on your fingers.
How to use:
- Dilute a ½ cup of apple cider vinegar with an equal volume of cold water
- Drink the solution
- Repeat this procedure daily until the bumps on your finger clear away
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to ease swollen bumps on your fingers.
How to use:
- Wash the affected parts of your finger with warm water
- Pat dry it with a towel
- Apply the Aloe Vera to the affected part
- Rinse it after about 30 minutes
- Repeat to apply it three times daily for few weeks until the lump on finger disappear
Lump on Finger Treatment
You can go for medical treatment in case bumps on your finger are caused by a serious health condition such as arthritis and cancer. Visit your doctor to help you in diagnosis and treatment of your health problem.
Some of the treatment methods that your doctor might use to remove a lump from your finger include:
- Prescription of topical creams that can help to treat a lump on finger caused by arthritis.
- Prescription of oral medication that can help to treat the underlying disorder such as arthritis and cancer that lead to bumps on your finger.
- A surgical procedure to remove malignant cells or cancerous tumors on your fingers.
When to see a Doctor
You can see your doctor over a lump on finger if you notice the following complications.
- When the lump on your finger has persisted for more than three weeks without clearing away
- When your finger has a severe itchy or painful lump that makes you feel discomfort
- If your finger has a too large lump that looks worrisome
- If you notice that the lump on your finger is associated with other strange symptoms such as bleeding sore, difficulties to straighten the finger and others
Sources and References
- A lump or bump on the finger: https://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cancer/lump-on-finger-/show/379620
- Signs and symptoms of a lump on the finger: https://www.healthgrades.com/symptoms/finger-lump
- Causes of a lump on the finger: https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/where-it-hurts/wrist-hand-and-finger-pain/causes/hand-wrist-arthritis.php
- Common causes of a lump on the finger: http://skintagsremoving.com/hard-lump-on-finger-joint-pictures-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment/
- Treatment of a lump on the finger: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ganglion-cyst/symptoms-causes/syc-20351156
- Home remedies for a bump on the finger: https://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-ganglion-cysts.html
- Home remedies for ganglion cysts on the finger: http://vkool.com/how-to-treat-a-ganglion-cyst/
thanks very much.will try one of the treatments.
I stabbed my thumb just above the knuckle about a month ago. I have a hard raised bump under the skin now. Doesn’t bother me for the most part but I think the (very sharp) knife went all the way to the bone. Should I be worried? Plus the knife was dirty. My husband made a sandwich with it and I was trying to open an old super glue with it. Dumb… I know.
I had a painful lump on my finger for about a year, my doctor was unsure of what it was. I was meant to have it removed at hospital however, by the time my appointment came it had gone. It has come back again what should I do.
I add garlic to most of the meats that I cook.
Garlic has some great healing properties!