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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:
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 !!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Allseeingallknowing · 13/04/2025 21:19

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

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.)

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.

3luckystars · 15/04/2025 08:47

It looks like a ‘waxy wart’

They can be frozen off at the gp surgery but in my experience that doesn’t work for everyone. I would try a few things mentioned above and go back to your gp if it’s worrying you.

WhySoManySocks · 15/04/2025 08:48

“GP has seen it a couple of years ago, didn't know what it is but wasn't concerned.”

This bit is infuriating.

Original poster
Foreheadthing · 15/04/2025 09:05

WhySoManySocks · 15/04/2025 08:48

“GP has seen it a couple of years ago, didn't know what it is but wasn't concerned.”

This bit is infuriating.

Ha yeah! To be fair I was happy they weren't concerned about cancer etc as I think they only refer on if they're concerned. When I asked about removal they said I'd have to go private. Fair enough!

@Myblueclematis @thenightsky would apple cider vinegar work on a wart though if that's what it is? I do have some I could use!

@NessieDoesExistYes I think this is what I'll likely end up doing - though if the cost is any more than a couple hundred I might see the GP again first and see if they'll refer me to dermatology for them to remove. I agree, I wouldn't want a GP to do it!

OP posts:
Lovemycat2023 · 15/04/2025 09:07

Foreheadthing · 15/04/2025 09:05

Ha yeah! To be fair I was happy they weren't concerned about cancer etc as I think they only refer on if they're concerned. When I asked about removal they said I'd have to go private. Fair enough!

@Myblueclematis @thenightsky would apple cider vinegar work on a wart though if that's what it is? I do have some I could use!

@NessieDoesExistYes I think this is what I'll likely end up doing - though if the cost is any more than a couple hundred I might see the GP again first and see if they'll refer me to dermatology for them to remove. I agree, I wouldn't want a GP to do it!

Show quote history

It’s worth noting that some GPs are experts in minor surgery, especially at some of the bigger practices. We’ve got one at ours. I think it depends what background they have. We also have a GP who used to be a consultant and does tricky coil removals etc as that was her specialism

MiffyMiffedOff · 15/04/2025 09:14

I had what I thought was a clear mole on my face. There is a private skin clinic near to me. They accept photo uploads so I sent them a photo, then had a consult and they removed it. Except it wasn't a clear mole it was a BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) basically slow growing skin cancer.

There is a teeny white scar that you cannot really see unless you know where you are looking. Because it was on my face I wanted someone who specialised in surgical procedures and I could see their previous work and reviews.

See if you can find a skin clinic which will tell you what it could be from a photo.

DazedAndConfused321 · 15/04/2025 09:38

I had similar, was concerned but kept being fobbed off so I fibbed and said it was painful at times and they begrudgingly took it off, sent it off and it was a type of skin cancer.

BumbleBeegu · 15/04/2025 10:02

If it’s SK (which it looks like) try swabbing with a high strength Salicylic Acid or hydrogen peroxide solution.

I used a salicylic acid wart treatment on mine and it worked a treat. Took a couple of weeks (and it did sting a bit once the area started to soften!)

Mine was on my cheek but looked just like yours. My next step (if the acid didn’t work) would have been laser treatment, but I wanted to try a cheaper option first. Glad I did! Saved £££s!

ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary · 15/04/2025 11:57

Don't try and remove it yourself. Go back to the GP. If it's growing, it will likely need checking. It's sometime difficult to differentiate between BCC and the more benign skin changes without a biopsy. And that looks a lot like the BCC my friend just had removed from their neck.

Theunamedcat · 15/04/2025 12:04

NHS won't treat warts because they "go by themselves" my son has a fillious wart under his nose GP sent us to dermatology they said they wouldn't treat it because it was on his face and told me to use OTC remedies which all say don't use on the face meanwhile he has something that looks like a barnacle on his face that no-one will treat

He also has around fifteen verrucas on his feet that no-one will treat and are very resistant for ten years

faerietales · 15/04/2025 12:19

Looks like Sebherroic keratosis. I had two removed from my back on the NHS last year.

Megifer · 15/04/2025 12:28

I've got a few of these on my thigh, identical. They go really brown when I false tan so I look like I have tiny choc muffin tops sprouting out my leg.

I bought a plasma pen thing from Amazon and burnt a small one off just to see what happened and it did work but I wouldn't recommend doing it on your face (I originally got it to deal with cherry angiomas and got a bit over excited at what else i could plasma off 🤣 it works on skin tags too!)

GP can prob freeze it off I had a mole froze off my top lip. Hurts like fuck though!!

Megifer · 15/04/2025 12:35

Oh and if you do get it froze off be warned it might just drop off your face at a random point in time.

The one on my top lip landed in a Big Mac ☹️

Trumptonagain · 15/04/2025 12:35

Since going through the Menopause I've had a a good few of these type of things appear on various parts of my body...those and skin tags...loads of skin tags.

Megifer · 15/04/2025 12:37

Trumptonagain · 15/04/2025 12:35

Since going through the Menopause I've had a a good few of these type of things appear on various parts of my body...those and skin tags...loads of skin tags.

You need a plasma pen for the skin tags 😃

Im peri menopausal and get them under my arms and around my neck. Out comes the pen, quick blast at the stalk. Off it drops. Lovely.

Trumptonagain · 15/04/2025 13:23

Megifer · 15/04/2025 12:37

You need a plasma pen for the skin tags 😃

Im peri menopausal and get them under my arms and around my neck. Out comes the pen, quick blast at the stalk. Off it drops. Lovely.

Show quote history

I've done the cotton tied round method on a few within easy reach one's with success, they fell off..

I'll look for a plasma pen...any recommendations for a tried and tested one please?

Allseeingallknowing · 15/04/2025 16:44

Plasma pen- is this something that can be safely used at home?

3luckystars · 15/04/2025 16:48

It doesn’t sound it’s very safe 😂but sounds like it works!