I'm very worried about a small, dry spot on my face that doesn't seem to be going away. I'm seeing a dermatologist about it Friday and I don't know how I'm going to make it til then.
It's located towards the inner eye between my brow bone and eye lid. It's small (pencil eraser size), very light in color (pinkish, hardly noticeable) and crusty. The skin crusts off but then it comes back. I don't know when I discovered it but i don't think it's been more than a month. It doesn't hurt or itch.
I wouldn't be so worried, but my mom-in-law recently had something that sounds similar removed from her cheek and the biopsy showed that it was pre-cancerous. Luckily she had it removed in time and it wasn't on her face very long. She's a nurse and suggested I go have it looked at if the crust kept resurfacing. Well it has and now I'm thinking the worst.
It hasn't grown in size and she said hers did, but my concern is that it should have gone away by now if it wasn't something bad.
Has anyone had something like this? I just need to vent here but if you have any advice I'd appreciate it. Thanks.
Funny story. I had a spot removed on my back about a year ago and told it was pre-cancer." I recently went to a new dermatologist and he told me there is no such thing as pre-cancer and that many doctors use it as a scare tactic to get people to use sunscreen. I am not a doctor and have no idea who is right but either way, I would get your spot checked out. Best wishes!
Holly, you've described an "AK": actinic keratosis. These are sun damage spots that are not cancerous, but becuase of the damage done to your skin, can lead to cancer. A dermatologist can remove it with frozen liquid nitrogen or a topical cream. Don't panic, AKs are very commom and most people don't notice them and leave them untreated for years and years with little impact. Don't worry about the few days you have left before your appointment, the AK will not develop into cancer. Google AK and go to reputable sites to get all the info you need, especially to be prepared to see your doctor.
It sounds like eczema. I have had it on & off for years. Its annoying but harmless.
It sounds like it could be eczema. I never had it until I turned 40 and then out of nowhere it started showing up under my eyes. It is good to have it checked out though.
Definitely see your doctor, but in the mean time you can try putting aquaphor on it daily. My daughter had some rough spots that were just excema, and aquaphor worked wonders!
You are doing the right thing by going to the dermatologist, and make sure you get a recommendation for a great one that you will like, because you will probably being seeing that DR in the future. I have had the same issues with these same spots on my face, especially around my nose, and mine are different kinds of "keratoses" (actinic, solar, etc...).
http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/actinic_ke...
I have had them frozen off or scaled off for biopsy, but once they are taken off, you do not have to worry. The cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen) can leave a white / lighter spot at the site of removal, so ask the dermatologist before they remove anything what you can do afterwards to maintain even skin tone. These procedures are painless for me, so do not be afraid. Better to check it out than to worry needlessly. Good Luck!
Hi Holly,
I had a spot that was extremely dry the size of diam on my cheek next to my nose. It took two months but I left it alone except for a little extra night cream at night and it went away on its own...and has never come back. I have the kind of skin that get dry spots and flakes off especially little spots on my nose. Maybe your skin is just changing. Mine has changed with pregancy, age, and moving around the country.
Don't stress out unnecessarily. You appointment will go just fine and the most important thing is that you are getting it checked out. VH
Hi Holly First don't panic. Every case is different. Just because it hasn't went away doesn't mean that it could be pre-cancerous or cancer!! Wait to see what your doctor says. It hasn't gotten any bigger and it probably hasn't been there that long.
My mom had one like that. She had it removed and now there is no trace of it. Hang in there.
