Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Dermatology (Expert Forum)
dark skin
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
dark skin
by fsuarez, May 12, 2006 12:00AM
i have a small bump on the tip of my nose. some days it's very red, other days it's less red, and even other days it's almost the color of my skin. with close examination you can see a tiny whole/indentation in the center. it looks like a very swollen pore. and the skin in the center sometimes peels, which is when i find it becomes the most red.
at first i just thought it was acne, but after a few weeks of it not going away i went to see a dermatologist (this was 11 days ago). she said that it's possible that it could have started out as acne, but that it isn't anymore. however she really couldn't say what it was, though she was sure that it was benign. she injected some cortisone into it to to see if that would help the redness and told me to come back in a month. at that time she said we could discuss possible laser surgery. as for my questions...
1. what could cortisone do to help this? it is only the redness that it might help, or could it also possibly remove the bump in time?
2. two days ago some more skin peeled off of the center and that's when i noticed that the bump seemed to become even more swollen/larger and redder. it's been this way since. should i wait to see what happens, or should i make a sooner appointment with my doctor?
3. is laser the best way to remove this?
4. keeping in mind that i am Hispanic, what would be the best laser to use on this?
5. if i go through with the laser, should i have a dermatological surgeon or a plastic surgeon remove it?
i've never had anything like this on my body before, much less my face, and it's really been affecting me. i'd appreciate any advice you can give me. thank you so much.
at first i just thought it was acne, but after a few weeks of it not going away i went to see a dermatologist (this was 11 days ago). she said that it's possible that it could have started out as acne, but that it isn't anymore. however she really couldn't say what it was, though she was sure that it was benign. she injected some cortisone into it to to see if that would help the redness and told me to come back in a month. at that time she said we could discuss possible laser surgery. as for my questions...
1. what could cortisone do to help this? it is only the redness that it might help, or could it also possibly remove the bump in time?
2. two days ago some more skin peeled off of the center and that's when i noticed that the bump seemed to become even more swollen/larger and redder. it's been this way since. should i wait to see what happens, or should i make a sooner appointment with my doctor?
3. is laser the best way to remove this?
4. keeping in mind that i am Hispanic, what would be the best laser to use on this?
5. if i go through with the laser, should i have a dermatological surgeon or a plastic surgeon remove it?
i've never had anything like this on my body before, much less my face, and it's really been affecting me. i'd appreciate any advice you can give me. thank you so much.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 12, 2006 12:00AM
, May 12, 2006 12:00AM
1. what could cortisone do to help this? it is only the redness that it might help, or could it also possibly remove the bump in time?
It might flatten it a little. It also might cause an indentation that could last for a few months, so caution is advised.
2. two days ago some more skin peeled off of the center and that's when i noticed that the bump seemed to become even more swollen/larger and redder. it's been this way since. should i wait to see what happens, or should i make a sooner appointment with my doctor?
I think you should wait.
3. is laser the best way to remove this?
No, I don;t suggest you remove it at all. I think you should leave alone in every respect for about 3 months. There's a more than middling chance that it will go away by itself if ignored.
4. keeping in mind that i am Hispanic, what would be the best laser to use on this?
None. Even if you were Caucasian.
5. if i go through with the laser, should i have a dermatological surgeon or a plastic surgeon remove it?
I really don't think you should.
Some things are best waited out. It's hard, but it's best, especially on the nose, where you want to take no chances at all, of course.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
It might flatten it a little. It also might cause an indentation that could last for a few months, so caution is advised.
2. two days ago some more skin peeled off of the center and that's when i noticed that the bump seemed to become even more swollen/larger and redder. it's been this way since. should i wait to see what happens, or should i make a sooner appointment with my doctor?
I think you should wait.
3. is laser the best way to remove this?
No, I don;t suggest you remove it at all. I think you should leave alone in every respect for about 3 months. There's a more than middling chance that it will go away by itself if ignored.
4. keeping in mind that i am Hispanic, what would be the best laser to use on this?
None. Even if you were Caucasian.
5. if i go through with the laser, should i have a dermatological surgeon or a plastic surgeon remove it?
I really don't think you should.
Some things are best waited out. It's hard, but it's best, especially on the nose, where you want to take no chances at all, of course.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Dr. Rockoff
marymk