Anyone medical about? Family here for Christmas worried about a new bump on my face (photo)

[TheBramley]

It’s been there about six months? 🤷‍♀️ it’s not bothering me but it is other people. 😳

No harm in getting it checked out OP.

Any medics about?

thanks @gamerchick :-)

I’m a nurse, the photos aren’t very clear though, sorry! You should ask your GP to refer you to dermatology for them to assess.

I’m medical. If it’s new then yes it does need to be checked out. Get a gp ap and they’ll refer you to dermatology. Don’t panic though, it’s pointless until you get in seen properly.

Sorry the pics are bad - it’s hard to do anything focused with the front facing camera - you can’t zoom. Family members are regaling me with tales of a great aunt that went from fine to cremated in about 14 minutes because of a brown dot on her big toe.

I have something really similar. My parents noticed it looking different on a zoom call. I went to the GP who referred me on the 2 week pathway. The dermatologist said it was fine, I could have it removed if it was bothering me but the scar would be worse than the mole.
I chose to leave it and it’s been fine. Would recommend going to the GP to take a look, for peace of mine if nothing else.

I will add, the GP took a look at all my other moles to see how it compared. Although I thought it was different, they pointed out a few that they saw that looked the same. I guess they look for certain characteristics that I wasn’t looking for!

Noone is going to be able to advise on here, you need to see a doctor (or do an econsult)

Just go to GP.

Just get it seen OP, there's no reason not to.

It's probably nothing sinister, but why take the chance?

Yeah, I’m being daft. Anyone that knows won’t say anything and after that it’s bonkers to ask - I’m a bit surrounded by worriers at the moment.

Even dermatologists don’t necessarily know if a mole is ok or not. I had a query malignant melanoma mole removed and sent to the lab. It turned out to be completely normal.

If it’s new, yes, absolutely get it checked. I had something somewhat similar appear very suddenly over about 6 months. Had it checked by GP this time last year. She wasn’t interested, said it was nothing. It changed further in the 6 months after that. I had it checked again, straight on the 2 week pathway I went. It was stage 3 melanoma that had by then metastasised to a nearby lymph node. I’ve had 3 surgeries since the summer and am now in treatment for the next year, which fingers crossed will mean I will turn out okay.

But the difference between having caught it when I first noticed it (I should have pushed back when the GP fobbed me off) and 6 months later would have been huge in terms of survivability and just long term quality of life (because the surgeries have left me with life long complications). Always get things checked. If you aren’t confident in the first opinion you get, do not be afraid to push back either. If it’s nothing, great, then it’s just a wasted 10 minutes at the GP, but you’ll be glad to know that’s all it is.

You should ask your GP to refer you to dermatology for them to assess. for their opinion, because assessing these is something they do every day and many don't need referral

Fixed that for you @NameChange101xox

And many GPs will refer to dermatology to be on the safe side. Bad day? 🤣

Not at all! Most GPs would use a dermatoscope on that which would determine the need, or not, for referral.

Most GPs will err on the side of caution, recognising that this isn’t their speciality and letting a specialist dr decide. In any case OP just get it checked at the GP. I’d not be surprised if they refer you to dermatology who will be able to advise further. It’s likely nothing but better to be safe than sorry.

Just to add, make sure you see a gp and not a physician associate. I was fobbed off onto one of these for a new mole on my face. I was not comfortable at all with what she said. In the end I had to change surgeries to see an actual gp who sorted things out very quickly.

Absolutely this. PAs in primary care are dangerous.