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Original poster

To get this removed? (And what is it?)

58 replies

Foreheadthing · 13/04/2025 09:49

I have had this growth on my forehead for a few years now. Don't know what it is, it's very slowly got bigger and more bumpy - like a skin coloured mole or wart, flattish to the skin. Others have now started noticing it and asking me what I've done to my head, and I'd like to remove it.

But I've no idea what it is, and whether removing it would just leave an equally ugly big scar? But I think I'd prefer that to an ugly wart thing! So I guess a few questions...

Anyone know what it is?
Should I still remove it even if I risk a scar?

And who do I even approach? (GP has seen it a couple of years ago, didn't know what it is but wasn't concerned. Suggested I have it removed privately)
A private dermatologist? A pharmacist? A skin clinic? Aesthetics clinic?

I really value advice I find on here so I'd be very grateful for any suggestions, or be told I'm unreasonable and should embrace nature 😂 photo attached!

To get this removed? (And what is it?)
OP posts:
Myblueclematis · 15/04/2025 08:43

thenightsky · 13/04/2025 10:09

I've got the same on my eyelid. After a lot of googling I'm sure its a seborrheic keratosis. Its too near my eye to put the liquid freezing stuff on, but I've read that a dab of cider vinegar twice a day will make it drop off eventually, so I'm trying that now.

I did this to a mole on the side of my face, it took a good few weeks to totally go but with a bit of tea tree oil also on it, it disappeared completely. I just have a very pale pinkish area where the mole was, unnoticeable to anyone else.

It worked brilliantly as well on a mole on my stomach, nothing to see there now.

NessieDoesExistYes · 15/04/2025 08:38

@Foreheadthing You need to see a dermatologist and the removal may be done by them or a plastic surgeon.
Start by looking at your local private hospitals.
It won't be cheap- a consultation is £250-£300 and the removal by a plastic surgeon could be £500 if they analyse it.
As it's your face, I'd never let a GP near it (for removal.)

Allseeingallknowing · 13/04/2025 21:19

Try dabbing it with salicylic acid. Might take some time.,

Deerrobin · 13/04/2025 21:03

I had something similar looking on my nose, it was a wart. NHS couldn’t help but I had it removed at a skin clinic, cost just under £200 a couple of years ago and took no time at all plus follow up to check on healing. I have a slight nick in my nose where they removed it but you wouldn't notice if you didn’t know. They sent it off for testing afterwards to be doubly sure it was nothing nasty.

thenightsky · 13/04/2025 20:58

Thismomlikesknitting · 13/04/2025 14:04

I've got similar on my eyes life gp and specialist say it's xanthelasma palpebrrum.

Show quote history

I have googled and mine definitely isn't that.

Sassysia · 13/04/2025 17:37

I’ve got the start of one of these on the side of my forehead too! I wondered what it was. At the moment it’s only about 3mm. Not been to the GP but have started taking photos to see if it changes.

TheBuffetInspector · 13/04/2025 17:14

I'd want BCC ruling out (basal cell carcinoma - I think!) My GP were quite quick on it. Inspected in Dermatology, labelled as seborrhoeic keratosis... Came back as something completely different after biopsy but still non cancerous.

BCCs can and do exist for years without causing a problem, but in this instance, I would demand a referral.

FoodieToo · 13/04/2025 17:09

It's almost definitely a seborrheic keratosis. In Ireland the GP will just freeze them off .

I would have a go myself with Compound W or similar !!

Lovemycat2023 · 13/04/2025 16:49

@Thismomlikesknitting mine was less developed than that. The scar tissue is flat, slightly shiny, so easier to cover up but still not great. Hopefully this photo is useful

To get this removed? (And what is it?)
Thismomlikesknitting · 13/04/2025 16:02

Lovemycat2023 · 13/04/2025 15:52

I had my xanthelasma lasered off. It’s now quite sensitive and looks very pale as I have pigmentation around my eyes. I think I would still do it again but it wasn’t quite as good as I was hoping.

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I've consider laser treatment over the years but it dint bother me. I do get comments from people about it. It's quite bad now.

To get this removed? (And what is it?)
Lovemycat2023 · 13/04/2025 15:52

Thismomlikesknitting · 13/04/2025 14:04

I've got similar on my eyes life gp and specialist say it's xanthelasma palpebrrum.

Show quote history

I had my xanthelasma lasered off. It’s now quite sensitive and looks very pale as I have pigmentation around my eyes. I think I would still do it again but it wasn’t quite as good as I was hoping.

millymollymoomoo · 13/04/2025 14:29

go and see a private dermatologist and they’ll remove it

comealongdobbeh · 13/04/2025 14:06

Go to GP, push for a referral to your local dermatology clinic. They’ll tell you what it is and whether they can remove it for you

GraySILK · 13/04/2025 14:06

I had one and I put basuka on it and soon disappeared.

Thismomlikesknitting · 13/04/2025 14:04

thenightsky · 13/04/2025 10:09

I've got the same on my eyelid. After a lot of googling I'm sure its a seborrheic keratosis. Its too near my eye to put the liquid freezing stuff on, but I've read that a dab of cider vinegar twice a day will make it drop off eventually, so I'm trying that now.

I've got similar on my eyes life gp and specialist say it's xanthelasma palpebrrum.

InfoSecInTheCity · 13/04/2025 13:41

I had a flesh coloured bump on the side of my nose, GP had no cancer concerns so that was that. I booked in with a dermatologist it was £150 total for the consultation and removal which was just done there and then during the consultation. They echoed the GP that it was completely benign and it’s healed up with no mark at all. It was a bit scabby and manky where it was sliced off for a couple of weeks then completely gone.

Lovemycat2023 · 13/04/2025 13:30

Foreheadthing · 13/04/2025 10:57

Thank you - I guess I'll just have to do a bit of googling to find someone who can treat it safely. I am just not sure what it is. I have a few more similar looking spots but much much smaller and seem to be just under my hairline. None around my eyes or nose or oily spots

Show quote history

This is the person I used: https://minorsurgery.co.uk

might help you know what to google! He did also send one of the bits off to a lab and it was all clear.

Thames Valley Surgical Services | Safe Minor Surgery

Thames Valley Surgical Services provides high quality minor surgery for very affordable rates. We treat Cysts, Lipomas, Moles, Skin Tags, Warts & more

https://minorsurgery.co.uk

unsync · 13/04/2025 12:05

If you go back to your GP, you can ask them for a private referral if they are unwilling to refer on the NHS. (BCC is Basal Cell Carcinoma.)

Saltedcarameltiramisucheesecake · 13/04/2025 11:20

Looks like keratosis to me. I am recovering from the removal of a few of these at the moment, face and body. I went to a private clinic and would recommend them. They will not diagnose though.
I went to my GP about one on my face, very similar. Referred to nhs dermatology. Currently have treatment plan with 4 weeks of cream. If that doesn't clear it, removal. Will leave a scar though. Had a tiny freckle sized mole removed in minor surgery. No problems so far.
I am in SE if you want to PM me for private clinic details.

ItGhoul · 13/04/2025 11:09

It looks like a wart to me. If so it can be removed privately. My friend had one removed from just next to her eyebrow. I would probably go back to the GP first though.

Original poster
Foreheadthing · 13/04/2025 11:07

MorningSunlight · 13/04/2025 10:06

NHS won’t touch anything that’s cosmetic (rightly I guess) but it’s a shame because it does make you very self-conscious.

Yes, I am absolutely happy to pay for removal as it's otherwise not causing me any problems. I just don't want to look like an old witch with a big wart 😂 it's unsightly and the fact other people have noticed it lately (my friend went to "wipe" something off my face thinking it was a leaf or a bit of dirt yesterday!) making me very self conscious, and it's on my face so I see it every time I look in the mirror.

OP posts:
Original poster
Foreheadthing · 13/04/2025 10:59

Crunk · 13/04/2025 10:05

NHS definitely remove BCC, it doesn’t need to be melanoma. I’ve also had solar keratosis treated.

Thank you - what is BCC? I think I will get them to have another look at it before I consider private removal then. The light in this photo makes it look very bad but it's relatively small and doesn't look as bad in real life / from a distance!

OP posts:
Original poster
Foreheadthing · 13/04/2025 10:57

Lovemycat2023 · 13/04/2025 10:22

I used to have quite a few bumps around my eyes, which I paid to have removed privately.

Whilst some were the yellow type ones specific to eyes (and were lasered off) I also had a couple of flash coloured bumps underneath which were taken off by scalpel.

I found someone who did it in a hospital setting, and was a GP, and it was c£500. Would recommend investigating it if the GP is happy it’s nothing worrying.

Edited

Thank you - I guess I'll just have to do a bit of googling to find someone who can treat it safely. I am just not sure what it is. I have a few more similar looking spots but much much smaller and seem to be just under my hairline. None around my eyes or nose or oily spots

OP posts:
Lovemycat2023 · 13/04/2025 10:22

I used to have quite a few bumps around my eyes, which I paid to have removed privately.

Whilst some were the yellow type ones specific to eyes (and were lasered off) I also had a couple of flash coloured bumps underneath which were taken off by scalpel.

I found someone who did it in a hospital setting, and was a GP, and it was c£500. Would recommend investigating it if the GP is happy it’s nothing worrying.

Bettysnow · 13/04/2025 10:11

I had something very similar looking to this. I covered it in castor oil and it disappeared after a week.
Check with your GP first to make sure it wouldn't do any harm if you are going to try it