Facial Bump/Growth Identificaiton

[Gorphus]

I have had a bump/growth on the side of my face, right about on the jaw line, for several months now that neither I nor my doctor can identify.  It started out feeling like a large pimple, but it never formed a head, and felt more tender than a normal pimple.  I let it be for a while to see if it would just go away on it's own, but it never did and continued to become more tender.  

After a couple of weeks, it started to form a rough, scab like, layer on the top of it.  Eventually the edges began peeling off like a scab, but not in the center.  I got tired of it getting snagged on stuff, so I pulled it off gently with a pair of tweezers.  It was surprisingly difficult to remove, but when it finally pulled free, there was a 2-3mm long and about 0.5mm in diameter, thin, clear/white "thing" in the center of the scab.  It wasn't like anything I have ever seen come out of a pimple or ingrown hair before.  It was almost rubbery feeling, and was soft and flexible, but firm enough to hold it's shape.  After removing it, the bump on my face was a considerably smaller, but it bled a lot more than a pimple or ingrown hair ever had.  Over the next couple of days, it was hardly visible, and pretty much painless.  However a couple of weeks later, it started getting bigger again and more tender.  And just like before, I pulled another "thing" out of it.  

The next time I saw my general practitioner, I had him look at it.  He said that it looked like a clogged pore.  I didn't fully agree with his diagnosis, but I am no doctor.  So, this cycle has been going on for several months now, and is really annoying.  Right now I don't have insurance, or I would just go to a dermatologist.  I have no idea what it could be, or how to accurately describe it,  but I would at least like to know what it is, and treat it if possible...if not I will let a dermatologist take care of it.


Thanks

[msrogo]

I  have exactly this same thing going on!  When I pull it out - which is very difficult - it almost looks like a tiny horn. Like you said, it holds its shape.  Have you found an answer?  is it anything to worry about?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The symptoms can be due to a sebaceous cyst. A sebaceous cyst is a closed sac occurring just under the skin which contains a "pasty" or "cheesy" looking substance called keratin. They may occur anywhere on body but scalp, ears, back, face, and upper arm, are common sites for sebaceous cysts. Blocked sebaceous glands, swollen hair follicles and excessive testosterone production will cause such cysts.

Generally no treatment is required but they become painful then it means they are infected, Then surgical excision by traditional wide excision, minimal excision, and punch biopsy excision may be required.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.