Does anyone know what this is on my chest?

[Shadow06]

So I think I've had this for possibly a few months, I don't quite know, but one of them kinda turned into a bump (could be a pimple, I tried to pop it one day and saw a little puss), and after about 3 days now I have a little pain in that general area.  I don't tan, I'm still a virgin, I'm 20 years old and I eat healthy/work out most days of the week for a few hours each day.  Does anyone know what this could be?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
These spots on the chest are pityriasis versicolor. Tinea versicolor is caused by a fungus that lives in the skin of almost all adults. Factors that can cause the fungus to become more visible include high humidity and immune or hormone abnormalities. Treatment involves topical and oral antifungal medicines. Most cases of fungal infections respond to over-the-counter products, which contain any of several basic ingredients: miconazole, tolnaftate, terbinafine, ketaconazole and clotrimazole. You can consult a pharmacist and get any cream or lotion containing these ingredients. Some of them are Lamisil, Monistat derm, Mycelex, and Nizoral. If the symptoms persist then please consult a dermatologist.

I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.

[AnnMarie524]

Did you have this checked out yet?  If it does not go away with taking an antihistimine (Benedryl) I would go to the doctor, it kind of looks like ringworm?

[Shadow06]

I agree, the lump is most likely a sebacious cyst, but what I was more curious about is the spots below it, I guess they are a little harder to see, but you can see them also in the picture.  They are about the size of the head of an eraser, some a little bigger.

Thanks for your help,

-James

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The painless lump that you are having seems like 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.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.