Itchy skin patch - BCC?

[QueenOfOversharing]

Hi. I've had a red patch come up on my chest, been there for a few weeks. It bled at one point, but now its just really itchy. I thought it was a patch of eczema, so been trying hydrocortisone for the itch, but it hasn't worked. I posted pics on a FB group I'm on & a few people think it looks like basal cell carcinoma.

Obviously, I'll get it checked by GP - seeing one next Thursday - but does anyone have any experience of this? Or even having suspected it, but it wasn't?

It doesn’t sound at all like my experience of BCC (which developed very slowly over many months until I even registered it was there, and never itched).

It sounds more like my experience of pityriasis rosea, to be honest (herald patch, followed a few weeks later by the most unbelievably itchy all-over rash). Might it be that?

I'm going to google that! I just thought someone might suggest a better anti-itch cream, then a few of them said looks like BCC that they had, etc. I've got Gp next week, so if it's not gone by then I'll ask him. Thank you for putting my mind at ease!!

Well if it is pityriasis then it will go in its own time, though the itching will linger long in the memory! And even if the GP says it looks like BCC then don’t overworry about that either. It has to be dealt with but really isn’t that big a deal.

Good luck for your consultation next week.

Thank you. The itching has stopped today, so no idea. But I'm not worrying - I was a bit shocked that ppl thought to suggest that, but I know it's not a big deal. Thanks again!

I had a dry itchy (fairly flat) patch on my thigh for years and years. I'd asked the doctor about it and she said it was nothing but last year I got it checked at the skin clinic. It was a BCC.
It was about 50p sized and sort of scaly - had a biopsy and then had a course of chemotherapy cream to apply for 6 weeks. It's gone now.
I would get checked out if I were you.

@loobylou10 I'm seeing gp next week, so I'll ask him to look at it. I took some pics...

Might it be worth asking a pharmacist to take a look in the meantime. They might be able to suggest something to try on it. I occasionally get a small patch of fungal infection similar to this on my upper abdomen, so hopefully it’s something similar that’s easily treated.

@Montybojangles thank you. I tried canesten, thinking ringworm, but nothing. I've been trying hydrocortisone with lidocaine too. Itching has stopped today. It'll probably be gone by time I see gp!

Mine was larger than that and flatter but looked very similar. Try not to worry, BCC is really treatable and you're doing the best thing getting it checked.

Also - mine was there at least 6 years before I got it diagnosed.

I had something that looked like BCC to a dermatologist. It was itchy and bled by itself. I had an excision. It turned out to be actinic keratosis. So even if it looks like it, it may not be one.

@loobylou10 I was a bit - not quite worried, but surprised last night when it was mentioned, but I'm not now. Thank you.

@OhYouBadBadKitten I think it must be really difficult to know, because so many things look alike. I assumed eczema as I've had that before & it doesn't look too dissimilar. I'll see what gp says & if he refers me to dermatologist.

Thank you!

Have you used mosquito bite anti itch and sting relief? Boots own one is the best one. You could take an antihistamine too if the itch is unbearable.

@GlamGiraffe I haven't tried that. I took an antihistamine but now the itching has calmed down. Might get that cream in case it starts again. Thank you!

My BCC was faintly itchy but it took years to develop and was very slow. It looked a bit paler and pearlier than yours. Don't worry too much! It could be plenty of other things and BCC is not really a big deal anyway.

@ferretface thank you. I think the ppl who suggested it were being overly cautious.

GP thinks either BCC or actinic keratosis. She took photos & showing to GP partners then calling me back. Suspects dermatologist 2 week referral.

It's so hard to tell the difference. Try not to worry, I remember I was really worried the first time. Even if the derm thinks it is BC, they are pretty chill about it.

@OhYouBadBadKitten just read her notes online & referral - they actually think it's squamous cell.

lost my reply.
You can see your notes online?!
If she is right and it is squamous, you've still caught it while it's really little.
I hope the appointment comes through quickly.

@OhYouBadBadKitten yeah - I can book appts, order repeat meds, check test results, see all documents (her referral) & consultation notes. I went to look for referral letter, then saw the notes & that she'd discussed with the partners of the surgery.

You're right - it's caught early. I'm just having a crap time at the moment & tbh this has put me in a right miserable mood.

I'm not surprised, it is a pants thing to be dealing with. I'm sorry you are having a crap time. I hope it all settles down for you.

@OhYouBadBadKitten thank you, love. It'll be fine & appt arranged really quickly, so whatever it is, it'll be dealt with before Christmas.

That's the spirit!

@OhYouBadBadKitten I think because I've been having a difficult time with a friendship & my DS that this was just one of those "not another thing" things. But fuck it! 😂