What’s this behind my ear? Photo attached.

[Stygimoloch]

I think it’s been there for about 9 months to a year. Doesn’t seem to be getting bigger. Doesn’t itch. What could it be? Is it worth getting it checked? My daughter looked and said it looked warty! Can you get warts behind the ear?

It does indeed look quite warty. I'd check with a pharmacist though

@TheCanyon looks warty! 🙈 Pharmacist is a good idea. Thanks.

They are a specific type of wart. One that doesn't go away unfortunately.
You can get them removed privately.

@Janaih thanks. It’s right behind my ear so I’m not too concerned cosmetically. It’s just the last few days I’ve been wondering what it actually is and whether it needs checking out.

It looks like it's on top of the skin? I had something very similar only it was under the skin. I used to constantly prod it and one day whatever it was vanished while I was 'checking' it and I ended up in a&e within hours with a really fast heart rate that wouldn't go away and then raging tonsillitis for a week. So if it is under the skin I'd definitely recommend not poking it!

@winniesanderson oh my god! 😱😱 What on earth was that?? Sounds horrendous! Thankfully it seems to be on top of the skin rather than under it. I’ll refrain from poking though, just in case!

You need to see your GP, a friend has just been diagnosed with a basal cell carcinoma which led me to googling images and yours does look a bit like some of them.

Obviously am not a doctor etc etc, but I really would get it checked properly ASAP just in case.

Please get it checked. DPs first suggestion was a possible basal cell carcinoma. Followed by “I’m probably wrong”, but as he is an actual Dr I’d advise getting someone to look at it, just to be on the safe side.

@HardAsSnails and @Crazycatstory thank you for replying! That sounds more serious and worrying. I’ll definitely get it checked out.

I was also going to suggest possible BCC - I've recently had one removed.

They're normally absolutely fine once they're removed them, but you should definitely get your GP to take a look at the photo. Unless they're sure it's nothing they should refer you to the local Dermatology department so that it can be properly checked. Again, though - it's nothing to feel terribly anxious about: just do get it checked

Could just be a seborrhoeic keratosis, but should be checked out to confirm.

@Walkaround and @SpudsandGravy thanks both of you. I’ve been reading about BCC and it doesn’t seem as frightening as some of the awful skin cancers out there. It seems heavily linked to sun damage though and this is behind my ear. I have long hair and this part of my skin doesn’t get any sun exposure.

I came across nodula melanoma in my frantic googling and have scared myself silly. I need to step away.

My doctors are awful and the first appointment is two weeks time!

OP, it may be that your GPs don't offer this (though I have no idea why they wouldn't), but at my GPs there's a service where you can send in photos of potential skin cancers and a doctor (ideally one with a specialism in dermatology) will take a look and then ring back, if necessary. My GP did this and saw enough to be sure that a dermatologist should see it, so a face-to-face appointment with the GP wasn't necessary. Maybe ring your GPs in the morning and ask whether they could do this?

Try not to worry in the meantime. Almost certainly it will be fine

@SpudsandGravy thank you, that sounds like a sensible idea. I’ll give them a call in the morning.

It’s hard not to become consumed by these things isn’t it? I felt this months ago but because it’s the back of ear, I only really had a proper look the other day and have been spiralling a bit ever since. Will try to stop thinking about it today now. Thanks again.

I was also going to say I am afraid it looks like a BCC to me and you should get it checked by a GP.
It doesn't look warty at all on the photo eg surface looks very smooth and it's very symmetrical. Also very odd place for a wart.

Great idea about sending the photo to your doctor.

Skin cancer doesn't necessarily manifest itself in places most exposed to the sun. My friend's mum had it on the back of her calf.

I agree with you, @Palavah. My DIL had it on the sole of her foot.