Advice needed: Pre-cancerous rough patch on my cheek

[motion]

I've been to the dermatologist many, many times for these dime-sized rough patches that appear on my skin in various places. Usually, they get out the liquid nitrogen and a q-tip and burn them off. That usually works. Last time, they nailed the one on my cheek with the cold torch. That was a mistake, as I have subsequently learned that the torch discolors your skin, where the q-tips don't. Anyway, the patch on my cheek went away for a few months, but now its back. Its basically a rough patch of flaky skin that is always peeling, and never heals. If it were anywhere else on my body, I wouldn't pay much attention to it, but its in a highly visible place.

Anyone dealt with these or have any advice, beyond talking to a Dr or the q-tip routine again?

[sc_rufctr]

Talk to your doctor.

I can't offer anything but I hope you get this sorted soon. Anything skin related scares me. Take care.

[stomachmonkey]

Skin stuff is nothing to screw around with.

Go see a Dermatologist.

Till then plenty of sunscreen and bigger sunglasses.

[bmcuscgr94]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Skin stuff is nothing to screw around with.

Go see a Dermatologist.

Till then plenty of sunscreen and bigger sunglasses.

#1 on this. Waited too long on a spot on my ear and they cut a piece off to get it all, looks like someone took a bite out of my ear. I've had several of the freeze treatments and several Mohs procedures on other spots. Visit the dermatologist every 6 months as we're watching a couple of spots for treatment, one similar to what you describe you've got.

Sunscreen, auto shade for the glasses, and big brim hat are now standard in the Porsche for running top down.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by bmcuscgr94

#1 on this. Waited too long on a spot on my ear and they cut a piece off to get it all, looks like someone took a bite out of my ear. I've had several of the freeze treatments and several Mohs procedures on other spots. Visit the dermatologist every 6 months as we're watching a couple of spots for treatment, one similar to what you describe you've got.

Sunscreen, auto shade for the glasses, and big brim hat are now standard in the Porsche for running top down.

Good catch, forgot the hat, hat is key.

[M.D. Holloway]

Coconut oil...

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

Coconut oil...

For my GFs arse maybe... Thinking SPF-15 sunblock at the very least.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Cancer is nothing to screw around with.

Fixed it... Seriously Richard, go see a specialist about this stuff. There has to be one or two in LA. Precancerous just means its hasn't gotten ugly yet. Having seen what going through cancer treatment is like, I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

[HardDrive]

Well definitely see a dermatologist, but if its simply patches of dry skin, it could be mild eczema. I get the same thing in a few place. A couple days of treatment with mild cortisone and moisturizer fixes it right up.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

Coconut oil...

That is crazy MD. My mother in her younger years put olive oil on her face to get tanned. She would lie under the sun for hours. The net result was that she got skin cancer on her forehead in her 80's. In effect she was cooking her skin.

I have similar kind of skin as my mother. I have a few brown blotches on my forehead but nothing major. I wear a floppy brimmed hat. We have good sun/clear blue skies for less months than you in California.

Guy

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

Coconut oil...

It actually does have an SPF of about 5 plus tons of rehydrating and healing benefits.

[Outback Porsche]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

For my GFs arse maybe... Thinking SPF-15 sunblock at the very least.

lol

[J P Stein]

I grew a spot on my forehead that was pronounced precancerous by a couple different MDs.
I forget the exact chronology, but several years later a dermatologist said it was time to get rid of it.....a dry spot bit smaller than a nickel by then.
The dent same by surgery was a bit bigger than that....but another scar is no big thing at this point.

The "go see a specialist" is good advice.

[speeder]

Having a good dermatologist is just de rigueur in this life. It's like having a good Porsche mechanic or dentist. I've had mine since I moved to Los Angeles in 1982, I was in Santa Monica then and that's where he is. I had a good family dermatologist in MN. They can be a life saver, literally.

My Dr. is in his 80s and has been practicing in Santa Monica for 50+ years, (a beach town for the uninitiated), I cannot even imagine the amount of ruined skin he's seen. Acres.

I'm a pale, blue eyed dude who loves the outdoors. I had already done major damage to my skin by my 20s, I need to cover-up all the time now and wear hats, etc. I ride a MC during the day a lot and I wear a full face helmet plus good sun screen on exposed skin. It's a hassle and I don't like wearing hats but I'll get skin cancer 100%.

Convertibles during the day are out of the question but I don't like them anyways so that's an easy one. It's a different world out here from the Midwest where I came from. The weather is much better but the sun is no joke. It can seem so beautiful, (and it is), but it will kill you and possible maim you along the way. There are few things more disturbing than seeing some older person with parts of their face or ears cut off.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

For my GFs arse maybe... Thinking SPF-15 sunblock at the very least.

I don't even know why they make SPF-15, maybe for the great north. We start at about 30 around here and use SPF-50 on boats, skiing, etc.

[rcooled]

I've had several pre-cancerous spots frozen on my face over the years. Same story as Speeder's...blue eyes, fair skin, and too much time in the sun as a kid.
Every 5 years or so, under the direction of my dermatologist, I apply Fluorouracil cream (USP 5%) twice a day to my whole face for about 10 days. This treatment will remove the dry, scaly patches that can be seen & felt as well as those that are present just below the surface. The biggest downside of this is that you'll look like a burn victim for a while if you have a lot of areas that need treatment. This stuff is only available by Rx from your doctor, and only works on the damaged skin...it'll leave healthy skin alone for the most part. After you stop the applications, the redness will gradually disappear after a week or so and healthy new skin will replace all the dry, damaged patches. If you go this route, it helps to have medical insurance...Fluorouracil will cost about $170 for a 40gr tube. It does have a very long shelf life though, and can be kept around for spot treatments as needed.

[p911dad]

Another med is Picato 0.05 gel. Use it 2 days, must be kept refrigerated, this is the nuclear solution short of Mohs surgery. $500.00 for 2 little tiny tubes If that doesn't get it, there is a "blue light" high intensity treatment at a dermatologist done twice 2 months apart. It is quite uncomfortable and you must stay out of any bright light for 48 - 72 hours. This will hold you for 6 -8 months. The dermatologist will want to biopsy the spot for a definitive answer. Mine have always been basil cells, occasional squamous cell I have been lucky so far with no melanoma. I get a checkup every 6 months, nothing to mess with.

[motion]

Thanks, everyone. As mentioned, I have visited dermatologists several times, and none have been really concerned. I have these bumps all over my body. Guess that's what I get for being a sun-worshipping Irishman. I'll do more research on Fluorouracil and Picato. Thanks!

[Tobra]

Actinic keratosis?

I was pretty lucky in the genetic roulette thing. Good teeth, good hair, no scary looking patches of skin.

High number sunscreen, use it, put it on before you leave the house, do this all the time.

Digital photos with a dime or something next to them for reference. Number them and make a little chart with a diagram of a body if you need to so you can keep them straight. Bigger or uglier gets scrutiny from the skin guy. I don't like freezing or burning stuff. I want to cut it out and have someone who studied path harder than me slice it up and look at it under a microscope.

[Moses]

Probably an AK. Ladies, sunscreen is preventative, not therapeutic. Get to a dermatologist. AK's can turn into squamous cell cancers. Not good.