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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Weird Flat Skin Growth on nose or something else
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Weird Flat Skin Growth on nose or something else
by massguy, Mar 26, 2007 12:00AM
Hi Doctor,
I am a 33 year old man who is very fair skin (red hair). About two months ago I noticed an odd growth on my nose - upper nose. Its flat, red/pink in color, shaped oddly like the state of Florida. Its about the size of a pinkie finger nail. It is totally flat, no odd edges, etc. It does occasionally flake (almost like a little peeling) and when I touch it with my finger, it does dissapear (turns normal) but then comes back quickly and turns more red/pink. I have had sun burns as a kid, so not sure if this is skink cancer related. My girlfriend actually puts make up on it for me (yikes)which really doesn't do the trick but actually makes it a tiny bit worse to cover it up until I see the skin doctor (three month wait for an appointment). What do you think it may be? Should I be worried?
Thanks for your time.
I am a 33 year old man who is very fair skin (red hair). About two months ago I noticed an odd growth on my nose - upper nose. Its flat, red/pink in color, shaped oddly like the state of Florida. Its about the size of a pinkie finger nail. It is totally flat, no odd edges, etc. It does occasionally flake (almost like a little peeling) and when I touch it with my finger, it does dissapear (turns normal) but then comes back quickly and turns more red/pink. I have had sun burns as a kid, so not sure if this is skink cancer related. My girlfriend actually puts make up on it for me (yikes)which really doesn't do the trick but actually makes it a tiny bit worse to cover it up until I see the skin doctor (three month wait for an appointment). What do you think it may be? Should I be worried?
Thanks for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Mar 26, 2007 12:00AM
, Mar 26, 2007 12:00AM
A spot that looks that funny and comes on that fast is almost certainly not a skin cancer. More likely it's due to some irritation you don't remember having. The fact that it blanches is also reassuring. My advice is to leave it alone, by all means cover it if you want to, and show it to a doctor in a month if it's still there. But skin cancers develop a lot more slowly, so I doubt you need to worry about that.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (2)
by vickie30, Apr 13, 2007 12:00AM
I think you should go to the derm. I have the exact same thing on my cheek that comes and goes. It is a red patch, that occasionaly flakes and feels slightly rough to touch. It is almost not noticeable. I thought it was just dry skin or eczema, but the derm said it was actinic keratoses, some sundamaged precancerous cells. It is easily treated. They can give you cream that can make it scab and peel off to get rid of the cells. I didn't think I could have that b/c I am only 29 and my cheek didn't look like pics online, but 3 derms agree here in nyc. It is better to treat now before it could turn into something years fron now..good luck
by Nemomaddog, Oct 09, 2008 07:03PM
A related discussion, Aging Nose was started.
