Suggest Treatment For Raised Bump On Arm

Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 Answered on

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : hello! I would prefer a dermatologist if possible. about 5-6 weeks ago I noticed a pimple on the outside of my arm directly under the line of my tattoo (shown by the arrow in the pictures provided) I left the pimple alone initially and it subsided to half its original size and does not hurt. but at about the one month mark I noticed it had not fully healed and still had a bump under my skin. I admittedly picked at it and squeezed it and it developed a scale over it which recently subsided and I was left with pearly raised skin with still a slight bump its confined to just under the tattoo line... obviously it's difficult to see because its under the tattoo, but I'm reluctant to go to a dermatologist in person who will inevitably try to convince me to get a biopsy which will ruin the tattoo. do you think this is necessary or at this stage do you think it is reasonable to just watch it for changes... I was slightly worried about basal cell carcinoma. but I am hoping it is just trapped dead tissue under the thick ink of the tattoo which cannot escape

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Granulomatous reaction to tattoo ink

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I have gone through your query and I have also reviewed the Images.

I can see a slightly raised bump at place you mention. It does'nt seem a basal cell carcinoma. I would keep a possibility of a foreign body granulomatous reaction to tattoo ink.
A skin biopsy would be confirmatory, however, since you wish to avoid it I suggest that you try a moderately potent topical steroid cream e.g mometasone furoate 0.1%, twice daily for 3-4 weeks.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar