23 replies to this topic

[Pord]

Hey,

I have been off of Accutane for almost four months now. My face has virtually no acne, just some solid marks and a few scars.

What I am worried about right now is the pulsating that I have on my face.

I have a part on my face (left side) about half of an inch above my lip and a little to the left. It is about three centimeters big. It is a little bump that pulsates. It never stops and has been doing this since I stopped taking Accutane. I never noticed it when I was on the drug or before I started to take the drug. It seems to pulsate along with my heart beat.

Does anyone know what this could be?

I just want to get this figured out as soon as I can.

Thanks so much.

[acnesucks111]

It might be a cyst if it is under your skin and has been there for quite sometime..

[AllynRose]

I would definitely see a doctor.

You're not likely to find the answer here.

[the uphill battle]

I've had these pimples before.. they have their own heart beat and are often huge and incredibly tender, right?? For me, the pulsating sensation always brought a feeling of impending doom because I knew my face was going to be a nightmare for awhile. They always left nice little craters in my skin after they were done torturing me too. Anyways! Bactrim was a God send for me when it came to these types. I never became resistant to it because I was only on it for 2 weeks max at a time. You can also look into a cortisone shot from your derm.. or a really nice drying sulfur agent; I like Bye Bye Blemish (bought from Fred Meyer). Good luck to you my friend!

[Pord]

the uphill battle, on 14 November 2011 - 11:17 PM, said:

I've had these pimples before.. they have their own heart beat and are often huge and incredibly tender, right?? For me, the pulsating sensation always brought a feeling of impending doom because I knew my face was going to be a nightmare for awhile. They always left nice little craters in my skin after they were done torturing me too. Anyways! Bactrim was a God send for me when it came to these types. I never became resistant to it because I was only on it for 2 weeks max at a time. You can also look into a cortisone shot from your derm.. or a really nice drying sulfur agent; I like Bye Bye Blemish (bought from Fred Meyer). Good luck to you my friend!

Actually, I am pretty sure that it is not acne. I really have not idea though to be honest. It does not look like acne and it does not feel like acne. It is white and is just this pulsating hump that I have . . . it may be a cyst.

What would a cortisone shot do?

I am going to the derm Thursday. Maybe I need to see some other type of doctor?

[the uphill battle]

The derm. should be able to identify it no problem. It sounds almost like a cold sore? Perfect timing with your derm. appointment to get some answers and hopefully some suggestions to get rid of this guy ASAP.

[Pord]

the uphill battle, on 15 November 2011 - 05:30 PM, said:

The derm. should be able to identify it no problem. It sounds almost like a cold sore? Perfect timing with your derm. appointment to get some answers and hopefully some suggestions to get rid of this guy ASAP.

If it is a cold sore it is the weirdest cold sore I have ever seen. Does a cold sore usually stay around for three months and have a pulse?

[the uphill battle]

Hmm...on second thought, no! Maybe you could try googling different things and see if you find any images that are similar to what you have.

[Pord]

the uphill battle, on 16 November 2011 - 10:43 PM, said:

Hmm...on second thought, no! Maybe you could try googling different things and see if you find any images that are similar to what you have.

I googled a few things and I think that it may be a trigger point. I have no idea though. I went to the derm this morning and she told me that she thinks it has something to do with stress. She said that it should go away with time. I sure hope that is the case.

[Pord]

And the pulsating continues. . . .

[taluce]

Pord, on 16 December 2011 - 07:30 AM, said:

And the pulsating continues. . . .

My guess is that your skin thinned while on Accutane revealing a vein that's just under the surface of your skin. That would make sense, since you said it was white. Your skin becomes white when something pushes on it, like a vein perhaps.

[Pord]

taluce, on 16 December 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:

Pord, on 16 December 2011 - 07:30 AM, said:

And the pulsating continues. . . .

My guess is that your skin thinned while on Accutane revealing a vein that's just under the surface of your skin. That would make sense, since you said it was white. Your skin becomes white when something pushes on it, like a vein perhaps.

So do you think that when my skin thickens I won't see the pulsating? This is so disturbing.

[taluce]

Pord, on 17 December 2011 - 07:18 AM, said:

taluce, on 16 December 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:

Pord, on 16 December 2011 - 07:30 AM, said:

And the pulsating continues. . . .

My guess is that your skin thinned while on Accutane revealing a vein that's just under the surface of your skin. That would make sense, since you said it was white. Your skin becomes white when something pushes on it, like a vein perhaps.

So do you think that when my skin thickens I won't see the pulsating? This is so disturbing.

Ya, most likely, but even if it doesn't, it's not that bad anyways though. Some people have that type of thing regardless of Accutane.

[Pord]

taluce, on 19 December 2011 - 03:05 PM, said:

Pord, on 17 December 2011 - 07:18 AM, said:

taluce, on 16 December 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:

Pord, on 16 December 2011 - 07:30 AM, said:

And the pulsating continues. . . .

My guess is that your skin thinned while on Accutane revealing a vein that's just under the surface of your skin. That would make sense, since you said it was white. Your skin becomes white when something pushes on it, like a vein perhaps.

So do you think that when my skin thickens I won't see the pulsating? This is so disturbing.

Ya, most likely, but even if it doesn't, it's not that bad anyways though. Some people have that type of thing regardless of Accutane.

I sure hope that it goes away. It has been like this for several months.

Could it be a Hematoma? I am not sure what this is. I read somewhere that to be a hematoma it would have to be hard.

[nomit]

Is it a lesion (raised, rounded - more acne-like), or a raised surface underneath the skin? Solid, or soft? White, or red with a white center? Tender? If you press glass against it, does its color change and then return, or does it remain unwavering?

There's a lot of conditions that can cause dermatological manifestations, though odds are it's perfectly benign (if annoying), seeing as how your dermatologist already had a look at it.

It's extremely unlikely to be a hematoma (in my opinion). A hematoma is a localized collection of blood in tissue outside the blood vessels - which will have a characteristic "bruise-like" hue, typically occurring after a form of trauma. Unless you're on blood thinners (in which case you should have a word with your GP ASAP), this isn't very probable.

Edited by nomit, 20 December 2011 - 11:16 AM.

[Pord]

nomit, on 20 December 2011 - 11:14 AM, said:

Is it a lesion (raised, rounded - more acne-like), or a raised surface underneath the skin? Solid, or soft? White, or red with a white center? Tender? If you press glass against it, does its color change and then return, or does it remain unwavering?

There's a lot of conditions that can cause dermatological manifestations, though odds are it's perfectly benign (if annoying), seeing as how your dermatologist already had a look at it.

It's extremely unlikely to be a hematoma (in my opinion). A hematoma is a localized collection of blood in tissue outside the blood vessels - which will have a characteristic "bruise-like" hue, typically occurring after a form of trauma. Unless you're on blood thinners (in which case you should have a word with your GP ASAP), this isn't very probable.

It is raised a bit. It looks more raised if my heart beat rises. It is underneath the skin for sure. It is soft and white. It doesn't hurt if I touch it. I have yet to press glass against it.

I am not on blood thinners.

Thanks in advance.

[nomit]

Before I start, I'd like to say a picture (just of the lesion) would help a lot - a picture's worth a thousand words, right? There are only so many questions I can ask you without sounding like a broken record.

Odds are it's just a sebaceous cyst ("pseudocyst," a benign lesion whose presentation varies based on progression and the presence, or absence, of infection), which can be excised with a minor surgery. A far less likely, though more concerning, alternative would be a sebaceous adenoma, a slow-growing tumour (though these are usually harmless in isolation). Either way, I'm not a doctor (so don't go cutting things off your face with scissors ), and this is a discussion you should be having with your dermatologist. If you are questioning his/her competence, it may be time to find a new one.

Sorry I can't be of more help. You can run down the (very lengthy) list of cutaneous skin conditions, if you're up the task.

[Pord]

nomit, on 20 December 2011 - 11:51 AM, said:

Before I start, I'd like to say a picture (just of the lesion) would help a lot - a picture's worth a thousand words, right? There are only so many questions I can ask you without sounding like a broken record.

Odds are it's just a sebaceous cyst ("pseudocyst," a benign lesion whose presentation varies based on progression and the presence, or absence, of infection), which can be excised with a minor surgery. A far less likely, though more concerning, alternative would be a sebaceous adenoma, a slow-growing tumour (though these are usually harmless in isolation). Either way, I'm not a doctor (so don't go cutting things off your face with scissors ), and this is a discussion you should be having with your dermatologist. If you are questioning his/her competence, it may be time to find a new one.

Sorry I can't be of more help. You can run down the (very lengthy) list of cutaneous skin conditions, if you're up the task.

You think it can be excised even if it pulsates?

Okay. I will try to get a picture of this as soon as I can.

Besides a dermatologist is there some other doctor that I should talk to?

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[nomit]

Most lesions (benign or malignant) will in some way need to be connected to the vascular system to maintain nutrition and provide an optimal environment for cancerous cells, infections, or the simple accumulation of sebum (as is the case with sebaceous cysts). In this manner, it's unusual for a relatively simple, obvious lesion to be inoperable, especially if your surgeon is specialized in the subject.

As the condition is likely isolated to the dermis/epidermis, your dermatologist would definitely be your best bet. That said, though it never hurts to ask for him to take a closer look, he is an educated, competent individual that completed years of schooling, and even more in specializing in dermatology: if he says it's benign and transient, odds are he's right (however frustrating it may be).

Good luck.

[Pord]

nomit, on 21 December 2011 - 12:09 AM, said:

Most lesions (benign or malignant) will in some way need to be connected to the vascular system to maintain nutrition and provide an optimal environment for cancerous cells, infections, or the simple accumulation of sebum (as is the case with sebaceous cysts). In this manner, it's unusual for a relatively simple, obvious lesion to be inoperable, especially if your surgeon is specialized in the subject.

As the condition is likely isolated to the dermis/epidermis, your dermatologist would definitely be your best bet. That said, though it never hurts to ask for him to take a closer look, he is an educated, competent individual that completed years of schooling, and even more in specializing in dermatology: if he says it's benign and transient, odds are he's right (however frustrating it may be).

Good luck.

Thanks for the info.

I am just trippin' because it has been like this for several months now.

I talked to my derm and she said that she thinks it is just because of stress. Though I don't know what role that plays.