11 replies to this topic

[Stevied645]

Hi folks, anyone shed any light on what this is.

Has mild acne most of my life, I'm sure there was on a spot on this part of my nose at some point, can't remember exactly though, as its been a year+ this has been on my nose, definitely growing though.







Cheers

Stevie

[austra]

I have the exact same thing, it was left after a pimple some years ago and at first I confused it with residual inflammation, but now I've come to the conclusion that it's most likely sebaceous hyperplasia. I've tried silicone sheets and they seemed to flatten it a tiny bit, but only while I was using them every day so I just gave up. Now I'm trying some moisturizer with salicylic acid, but I don't think it's going to budge. I've just learned to accept it. Some people have tried cauterization or lasers, but I wouldn't bother. Sebaceous hyperplasia seems fairly common especially on the nose - even Daniel Craig in the new Bond film looked like he (maybe) had one of those and it didn't detract from his hotness one bit, so no big deal.

[Stevied645]

I have the exact same thing, it was left after a pimple some years ago and at first I confused it with residual inflammation, but now I've come to the conclusion that it's most likely sebaceous hyperplasia. I've tried silicone sheets and they seemed to flatten it a tiny bit, but only while I was using them every day so I just gave up. Now I'm trying some moisturizer with salicylic acid, but I don't think it's going to budge. I've just learned to accept it. Some people have tried cauterization or lasers, but I wouldn't bother. Sebaceous hyperplasia seems fairly common especially on the nose - even Daniel Craig in the new Bond film looked like he (maybe) had one of those and it didn't detract from his hotness one bit, so no big deal.

Thanks, would your opinion still stand if I added that occasionally it gets red. Maybe from me touching it tho.

So is it nothing to worry about? I was worried I had rhinophyma! Got myself in such a mess thinking it was, suffer from anxiety, makes my life hell sometimes.

Thanks

[Quirky Fox]

To me it looks like a little cystic acne nodule, one that hasn't come to the surface. I get these on my jaw line (about the same size). They are under the skin, with no way to pop them (even though you shouldn't anyway!) and they become red when touched or itched. The nose is especially hard to treat and if it's been a year you may want to look into treatment options as it will likely just continue to fill with pus otherwise and/or pop and leave a scar.

Have you got a good skin care regime? If not then that's the best place to start. You could also see an esthetician for advice.

I wouldn't stress though.

[Stevied645]

Thanks, I tried doing a cold compress with some ice wrapped in a tea towel this morning, and that has done nothing apart from making me feel like my nose is on fire now. Possible slight decrease in size of lump. Not 100% sure. But it sort of hurts to touch now. Where it didnt before.

I'm no convinced by the sebaceous hyperplasia. From doing some reading it usually has a pore in the centre of some sort of hole. Which mine hasn't, and I haven't read about them hurting, which at this moment in time it is hurting to the touch, I have been think small cyst though.

I haven't really got a routine to be honest, I drink far much sugary drinks, eat far to much junk food, my washing routine is washing with dove soap twice a day, I tryed using other facial washes etc but I seem to break out in spots if I use anything other that dove. Weird! I'm no even sure where to start with a proper regime, lately I've done nothing but worry that it's something serious, I'm always the same, look on google, find the worse case scenario and convince my self that its what I've got. Bloody hate anxiety for the way it makes me feel.

Thanks for the replys.

Stevie

[austra]

Well, it could be a cystic nodule, it's hard to say. That's what I thought mine was, but I never managed to extract anything and it never changed in size. I tried putting on some cortisone cream for around half a year with no change, so then in the end I concluded it can't be inflammation. I thought it would be sebacious hyperplasia because I found similar stories on this forum and people said that it's sebacious hyperplasia. I'm not really sure if it is that though, since I don't have a pore in the middle either, and I don't think those other people with the same thing had a pore. You could try to get a cortisone shot from a dermatologist, that should help if it is a cyst and supposedly it might help with hypertrophic scarring.

Edited by austra, 09 December 2012 - 10:21 AM.

[Stevied645]

Well, it could be a cystic nodule, it's hard to say. That's what I thought mine was, but I never managed to extract anything and it never changed in size. I tried putting on some cortisone cream for around half a year with no change, so then in the end I concluded it can't be inflammation. I thought it would be sebacious hyperplasia because I found similar stories on this forum and people said that it's sebacious hyperplasia. I'm not really sure if it is that though, since I don't have a pore in the middle either, and I don't think those other people with the same thing had a pore. You could try to get a cortisone shot from a dermatologist, that should help if it is a cyst and supposedly it might help with hypertrophic scarring.

It's a weird one, I'm not 100% sure, but after yesterday's ice it seems to have maybe went down a little.

I have the doctors on Wednesday. Any advice on how to get him to refer me to a derm, they don't want to seem to send me to one. I have been on those tablets and cream for over a year now and I'm still not happy with my skin or this lump, the doctors are just not interested.

Thanks

[Quirky Fox]

Thanks, I tried doing a cold compress with some ice wrapped in a tea towel this morning, and that has done nothing apart from making me feel like my nose is on fire now. Possible slight decrease in size of lump. Not 100% sure. But it sort of hurts to touch now. Where it didnt before.

I'm no convinced by the sebaceous hyperplasia. From doing some reading it usually has a pore in the centre of some sort of hole. Which mine hasn't, and I haven't read about them hurting, which at this moment in time it is hurting to the touch, I have been think small cyst though.

I haven't really got a routine to be honest, I drink far much sugary drinks, eat far to much junk food, my washing routine is washing with dove soap twice a day, I tryed using other facial washes etc but I seem to break out in spots if I use anything other that dove. Weird! I'm no even sure where to start with a proper regime, lately I've done nothing but worry that it's something serious, I'm always the same, look on google, find the worse case scenario and convince my self that its what I've got. Bloody hate anxiety for the way it makes me feel.

Thanks for the replys.

Stevie

Stevie, have you tried a vitamin A based product to spot treat this bump? Something like Stieva-A? The fact that the bump is a little better after icing it makes me think that it is a cystic nodule as ice would reduce inflammation/swelling. Stieva-A may help and it's not expensive. Whatever you do don't try to pop this, even if it gets to the stage where it looks like it will pop easily. Nose scarring is very hard to treat!

As for your doctor, insist on that referral. Tell them that your skin condition is troubling you and if they're still not interested then find another doctor. Tell them that this spot is painful and that this is not the first spot you've had like it (even if it is). Sometimes we need to exaggerate a little just to get people to listen. It's sad but that's how it goes. Make a lot of noise and they'll eventually listen.

Good luck!

[austra]

Hmm, mine sometimes does look flatter, especially after using silicone sheets, so I wouldn't necessarily outrule mysterious-nose-bump-thought-to-be-sebaceous-hyperplasia. But maybe you could try to get a cortisone shot? That's probably the easiest way to treat it if it's a cyst.

[Quirky Fox]

Hmm, mine sometimes does look flatter, especially after using silicone sheets, so I wouldn't necessarily outrule mysterious-nose-bump-thought-to-be-sebaceous-hyperplasia. But maybe you could try to get a cortisone shot? That's probably the easiest way to treat it if it's a cyst.

May I ask a stupid question of you? What exactly are silicone sheets and what are you using them for? Very curious!

[austra]

They're sheets of silicone. They're used for hypertrophic scarring and preventing hypertrophic scarring after surgery. You are supposed to wear it on the scar 24/7 for a few months, and it should help with the redness and flatten the scar. I got some for an old hypertrophic scar on my back, but have been fairly lazy using them, so I can't really say if they're effective. It didn't really help with the bump on my nose - I tried wearing a silicone sheet over it during the nights for a couple of months. Although it did always look a bit flatter for a little while after I'd been wearing the sheet, it wasn't a cumulative effect and in the end I gave up.

[Quirky Fox]

Thanks for the info! I'm wanting to research it more now. I don't think I need it but it's one of those things I have to know about!