Small red slightly tender bump on cheekbone

[Lina72]

I had a small spot (pinprick size) on my cheekbone appear about 6 months ago, red and blanches when I press it.  I thought it was a hemangioma, I have another one on my arm.  Now the area around it is a red, it's now I would say a patch of reddish skin, about 1/2 cm with the red spot in the middle. I have been scrubbing the area with a salicylic acid face scrub so I don't know if I've irritated it now or if it is growing or what.  It also has some flaky skin on it now but again I don't know if it's from the scrub or not.  I have bad seborrahic (sp) dermatitis on the sides of my nose, eyebrows and scalp so maybe it's that?  today I put 1% hydrocortisone cream on it, since that really helps the dermatitis.

It hurts a little if I press my fingernail in it.  It is not bleeding or crusting.

I am really concerned about skin cancer and go once or twice a year to the dermatologist (I'm fair and freckled and had a few burns before age 18. I am now 34 and haven't burned since then, I avoid the sun between 10 and 4, wear sunscreen, wear sunscreen on my face everyday, etc).  

I just went about 2 months ago to the derm. about another spot but neglected to mention that spot, though he didn't say anything, so I guess he didn't notice it.

I have a sinking feeling this spot is something serious.  I looked up skin cancer and red spots fit both BCC and SCC.

I am angry with myself for not going to the derm earlier for it and for not telling him about it.  Should I go tomorrow and have it checked out right away?  Sometimes I feel it's like a never ending battle, I constantly check my skin and I feel like sooner or later I will get skin cancer because of my genetic makeup and BAD sun exposure choices as a stupid teenager.


Are SCC and BCC very bad if not caught early?  I'm very anxious.  Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Your dermatologist would very likely have noticed something, especially with your history.  Your spot is more than likely a hemangioma, as you thought, but one that you've irritated by examining it, pressing your fingernail on it, and so forth.  I understand your anxiety, but your best bet is to leave the spot alone, and arrange for your doctor to see it in 1 month unless it has regressed to a small spot by then, in which case you can wait till your next routine visit.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff