What is this on my nose?!

[WhoNoseMyKnows]

So this red patch/sore looking bit has been on my nose for at least 18 months, and I think much longer.
I vaguely thought it was something to do with scratching it as I changed my nose stud but I'm really careful and rarely change it now so it doesn't seem related.

This red bit gets better and worse but never goes away.
I've tried antifungal cream in case that did anything...

What is it? How do I make it go away?

An inflamed or blocked pore maybe?

Could it have been a spot that's scarred? This happened on my face and the scarring is slowly going down but still there.

I don't want to scare you - I'm not a doctor. But my brother had similar and it was a basal cell carcinoma. He had it treated twice. Maybe get it checked by the gp?

If it’s not gone away after such a long time, it definitely warrants asking your GP. I had a strange patch on my skin, that turned out to be a Basal Cell Carcinoma, I’ve just had to have it removed.

Yep, looks like bbc to me, get it sorted and you'll be fine.

Yes to getting checked for basal cell carcinoma. Also known as a rodent ulcer. Please don’t get it confused with melanoma: this is farrrrrr less dangerous.

I had something (also on the side of my nose) which looked identical. I paid privately to see a dermatologist (so bypassing the GP), who said it was most likely either a "solar or lichenoid keratosis" - nothing serious - and he treated it with liquid nitrogen to freeze it. It scabbed over and then healed with no scarring and has been absolutely fine since.

I too was worried about it being a bcc, but this is to let you know that it also may well not be.

Looks like it could be an early BCC so I'd get it checked.

BCCs are basically small cancers that occur as we age on sun exposed sites. They don't spread through the body like melanoma. They stay where they are, but can very, very slowly become big and unsightly. They are easily removed and getting them removed is a pretty routine part of body maintenance -try not to stress about it.

Boots were doing a skin scanning service in selected stores for about 70 pounds. The scan is reported on by a dermatologist. Could not recommend them enough. If there is anything sinister then you've a report to go to your GP for an NHS red flag referral.

Thanks for the replies. Will consult GP. I did speak to a disinterested pharmacist who suggested antiseptic cream

WhoKnows I asked my pharmacist who had no idea what mine was, she suggested I went to the Gp. My GP had no idea either but said she would refer me to the dermatologist..not as urgent because that’s only for melanomas. As soon as I did see a dermatologist, she was able to identify it was a BCC, obviously had to have a biopsy to confirm it. Both GPs and pharmacists have a broad knowledge but skin is a specialism, as soon as the expert saw mine she knew what we were dealing with.