Permenant White Heads, Newly Appearing Red Spots

Ereshkigal · Regular Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 34

Hello all, my question has several facets, so please bear with me! Also, I know I've posted several "Questions" threads before; i.e.) wondering if the symptoms/conditions I have are related in some way to cancer. I hope I'm not bothering anyone by doing this -- my purpose is only to know if what I'm experiencing has been experienced by others. Yes, going to a dr. is the best option, but my dermatologist simply doesn't seem to care; in fact he missed a (non-cancerous, thankfully) tumor on my neck about six months ago -- simply assuming it was a cyst, and injecting it with something to presumably make it go away. Naturally, it didn't, and I finally went to a General Surgeon who cut it out of there.

So, again, my purpose in posting questions is simply to get an understanding, because evidently my dermatologist doesn't really have one (and I can't go to another dr. because of my dad's insurance plan... it's complicated).

So anyway, starting in about 7th grade and continuing through 11th grade I had severe acne. This is not surprising in itself, of course, and when I got on Accutane it got rid of the acne.

However, since then I've had residual effects that I'm not really sure what they are. First, I've had permenant whiteheads all over my shoulders and chest... which I've never read as being a symptom of anything; but it just is odd that they do not go away. Maybe it's perfectly normal, but I've never heard of it...

Secondly, I've had a black spot in the middle of my chest where a large zit used to be, but then went away and left a residual effect (a scar?). It looks like a "blackhead" simply in that it is darker colored, but it's been there since I was in about 10th grade, and now there's another small site that looks exactly the same a little ways away from it. Additionally, rather recently I've had three (red, circular) spots appear to the right of this "blackhead" that are not acne - as they are not raised at all and have not gone away or even shown the slightest hint of diminishing in size. If anything, it seems one of these three spots has gotten bigger, but maybe I'm just imagining things in my worry...

I've also had various "scars" pop up even years after I got rid of the acne. In fact I have this (what looks like a) scar pop up on my chest only a few months ago... it's kind of hard to see, but in dim light it's clearly visible. Of the ABCD's; it only fits A&D -- it is about 2cm "wide" but only about half a cm "tall". I know it's hard to picture, but I don't want to include a photograph as I'm not sure if I would be allowed to -- as I'm not technically a "regular" poster....

As a general question: can melanoma (or other skin cancers) appear in one spot at first, and then "travel" to other sites (I know obviously all cancers can spread, but can melanomas "travel" to other sites in the skin)? Or can there be two "primary" melanoma sites, without necessarily being related? (I can't find anything myself either way...).

I'm not trying to make this too long, but I am really trying to figure out what's wrong with me. Maybe I just have "bad skin" but that wouldn't explain why I have these "scars" that just suddenly are appearing. The thing that worries me the most, I think, is the three red dots (by the "blackhead" in the middle of my chest) that just suddenly appeared...in addition to the "scarring" that randomly seems to appear in various spots on my chest and shoulders...

I know the best thing to do is to go to a doctor (specifically, a dermatologist). It's just that my dermatologist is content just to say everything's fine and then do nothing. So even if no one can even answer any of these questions (and I understand as the language used is vague, and really only a photo could do this stuff justice), I just want to know how much damage I could do to myself by waiting a few months, to hopefully get a job (I'm in school right now) and then go to a different doctor. Would the rate of spreading be different for each type of skin cancer (i.e. for melanoma vs. basal cell)? Does skin cancer spread relatively quickly; or is that information unknown and/or dependent on each individual?

I realize this is a ton of information, and I'm sorry for posting so much. If even any one of these questions can be answered, I would be really greatful. Thank you very much to anyone who has read up to this point and makes an effort to help me out.

Ereshkigal

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1003 Location: UK

If you have been seeing a dermatologist, and he/she says everything's fine, apart from seeking a second opinion from a specialist in melanoma, I think it would be better for your state of mind to accept that your skin is not affected.

Having said that, check information on basal cell carcinoma - in fact raise it with your dermatologist.

Ereshkigal · Regular Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 34

Vee,

Thanks for your reply. Although I'm not currently seeing a dermatologist, I have seen my GP fairly recently. He made no mention of anything being wrong with the affected areas, though I unfortunately had not brought them up to him.

I will mention about basal cell, however, when I do re-connect with my dermatologist.

Thanks again,

Ereshkigal

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