Small bluish purple lesion on my shin for 2 years

[melissa1980]

Hi,

About 2 years ago, there was a small redish bump on my upper shin, just below my right knee cap. It never healed completely, even after applying triple antibiotic ointment/bandaids for extended periods of time.  I never gave it much thought...it was about 1-2 mm in diameter and while sometimes itchy, it wasn't terribly offensive.

Three months ago, it started to get bigger, as well as darker.  By bigger I mean that the bump is approximately 0.75 mm high and about 5 mm in diameter.  I'm fair skinned, so it sticks out on my shin as this darkish mark.  There was no mole there originally; whatever it is, it started in unmarred skin.  Also, it is round, very smooth to touch...almost shiny, and the boarders are mostly regular, although there is some pigment around the perimeter that may seem irregular.  

About a month ago, a smaller lump started to form about an inch below this bigger lesion.  The smaller bump is red, and looks just like what the other one did when it first formed 2 years ago.

I know that I need to have it looked at...it scares me how much a doctors office might charge for a visit/skin biopsy, so I'm hesitant to get into that, being uninsured.  

I'm 28, female and would like any other thoughts about why this bump on my leg is NOT something serious.  I've been trying to find other things that it might be (besides melanoma)...any other thoughts/hypotheses would be greatly appreciated.

[Pum]

I would say you need to go to a doctor. Anything that is changing and growing needs to be checked out immediately. Of course it could be something benign like a dermatofibroma but only a professional will be able to tell you for sure. Dermatofibromas often occur in women on their legs, can be itchy, can be different colours etc.

Melanoma is a serious business and it is worth spending money on your health. Please see someone.

Take care.

[melissa1980]

Thanks for your input :)  You're right, I need to have it checked out.  Google-searching put the worst in my head, and hopefully its a dermatofibroma, although I have absolutely no idea for certain.  It's been there so long now without healing, and when it started turning darker colors, it really caught my attention.  

I've never tanned on a tanning bed, and I rarely wear shorts outside, but I have blistered several times from sunburn before as a kid and teenager.  It's just bizarre because there's no one in my family who's ever had melanoma (or any type of cancer) before...I'm only 28, and since I was 18, I've generally avoided the sun.  I know that doesn't exempt me from anything, but I'd like to hope it at least helps my cause!

Any idea what a dermatologist visit + biopsy would cost?  I guess doing a biopsy is the only sure-fire way to know what it is...?  The longer I wait, the more it may ultimately be, so I guess it's better to look into it at least.  

Thanks again for your help!

[Pum]

I'm in a different country to you so couldn't comment on the costs sorry. Biopsies are free here and doctors visits are about 10US dollars. In NZ a doctor can tell melanoma or dermatofibroma from looking 9 out of 10 times but in the US it seems to me that they err on the side of caution a lot (to avoid being sued maybe) and biopsy a lot.
If you press the skin around the lump does it button in or out? Dermatofibromas kind of pull into the skin with this test. Not a guarantee though.

Good luck.

[melissa1980]

Hi and thanks again for the response :)

I guess that's my biggest problem, or hesitation I guess, with going to see a doctor.  If I know that they won't do an unnecessary biopsy or other test and charge through the nose for it, I'd be more likely to go, although I'll probably do so anyway.  I think you're right about doctors over here trying to err on the side of caution...it probably is to keep from getting sued.  People over here like to go to court over medical errors, which is probably why our medical costs are very high...maybe someday that'll change, hopefully!

I looked up the 'dimpel effect' that is associated with dermatofibromas.  I would have to say, after pressing on the margins around the lump, that it does not dimple inward.  If anything, it looks like it pushes outward/upward rather than inward.  It's like there's a small, purple-blue stone that's under my skin.  I know that the dimple effect doesn't hold for all dermatofibromas, so I'm still hoping that's what this is.  It hasn't grown any in the last two weeks, from what I can tell, but I'll measure it about once a week, keep an eye on it and try and find a doctor who can look at it and give me a better idea.  At 5mm in diameter, I don't want it any bigger, and if it does widen, I'll take that as a 'biopsy-needed' sign!  

Thanks again for your help...I really hope it is a dermatofibroma, which I hadn't considered until you mentioned it.  I'll get it looked at, but at least I know it could be something other than the worst.  I'll henceforth delay my pessimism until after I find out for certain!  lol

[melissa1980]

Here's a question I thought of over the weekend, about dermatofibromas.

I understand that not all dermatofibromas dimple inward when the skin around them is squeezed.  Are they able to change over time and ultimately be able to do so?  In other words, while my spot-in-question will not currently dimple inward, will it ever, over the course of a few months, be able to do so?  

I know everything is different for everyone, and not all spots act the same...just curious about whether or not the dimpling characteristic of dermatofibromas can vary over the course of time.

Thanks!