Aa
indented 'age?' spot on nose, etc.
I am 62 and have noticed white, indented looking spots on my arms and legs over the last few years. They generally begin as a pink spot and turn white within days. I now have one about the size of my pinkie tip on my nose. It 'appeared' yesterday after a short walk in the sun. Nothing raised, crusty, sore, etc., just the same type spot. Very round and slightly indented. They look like large chicken pox scars but not as deep. What might this be?
Best Answer
My dermatologist is a MOHS surgeon/ dermatopathologist out of Atlanta who comes to a town near us 3 days a week.
Immediately he said I have Rosacea and he also feels I have occular rosacea instead of Blepharitis. He picked up on it without me mentioning it at all. The 'indentations' I see are actually a thickening of the skin. He said we can laser the veins on the side of my nose if I can't keep them covered with makeup.
He did burn off four tiny spots on the bridge of my nose and removed 2 moles that he feels are fine (tummy and side of my knee) but since he hasn't ever done a full body check before (my fault), felt it was safer at my age to quickly scrape them off. He said 'Don't lose sleep over those, okay?'
So thankful it wasn't something worse and that I only have the little bit on my nose at this point. Really thankful I have insurance AND my dermatologist gave me a 'Don't pay more than $25 for this' coupon.
Immediately he said I have Rosacea and he also feels I have occular rosacea instead of Blepharitis. He picked up on it without me mentioning it at all. The 'indentations' I see are actually a thickening of the skin. He said we can laser the veins on the side of my nose if I can't keep them covered with makeup.
He did burn off four tiny spots on the bridge of my nose and removed 2 moles that he feels are fine (tummy and side of my knee) but since he hasn't ever done a full body check before (my fault), felt it was safer at my age to quickly scrape them off. He said 'Don't lose sleep over those, okay?'
So thankful it wasn't something worse and that I only have the little bit on my nose at this point. Really thankful I have insurance AND my dermatologist gave me a 'Don't pay more than $25 for this' coupon.
Thanks again....... I'm such a worrier after having colon cancer four years ago!
Since I have a few 'indented' elsewhere on my face I think you're right that it's my skin reacting to the sun. I have an appointment with my dermatopathologist. He's the best in the area.
I AM going to get some good sunblock and start wearing it daily.
Since I have a few 'indented' elsewhere on my face I think you're right that it's my skin reacting to the sun. I have an appointment with my dermatopathologist. He's the best in the area.
I AM going to get some good sunblock and start wearing it daily.
Erythema, blushing and acne like eruptions are the clinical picture for Rosacea and more common in 40-50 group.. your picture does not support a diagnosis.Do consult your Doc.
Guess a good sunscreen or a sunblock should do fine. Beta-carotene supplements should work well especially in your case.ok?
Thanks! Just 5 minutes in the sun in the summer will cause teeny white pimples to appear for about 24 hours.
I had chemo 3 1/2 years ago and I do know that causes sun sensitivity.
Thanks for your answer.
I had chemo 3 1/2 years ago and I do know that causes sun sensitivity.
Thanks for your answer.
Wish we could edit.
I have mild blepharitis. That was dx'd by an eye doctor earlier this year. Recurrent 'styes' (sometimes years apart).
I have mild blepharitis. That was dx'd by an eye doctor earlier this year. Recurrent 'styes' (sometimes years apart).
Should add, my nose gets 'red' for no reason at times (for at least 8 - 10 years since menopause) and I've noticed the veins on the side of the nasal 'flaps' are seen through the skin. Could this be rosacea and the sun exposure is causing the sudden spots?
I guess I didn't explain very well because my symptoms do not fit those conditions in any way.
I found the white spots on my arms idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. It's a condition where pigment is loss, stops itself and doesn't progress.
The spots on my nose (there are now three) appeared after a few minutes (5-10) walking in the Georgia winter sun back and forth to a parking spot. NO discoloration, hardening, lumps, bumps, crust, etc. These spots just look like very slightly indented (flat), perfectly round spots. The largest one is about the size of my pinky tip. I have now noticed one on either side of my face that are same size or smaller but think those have been there quite a while. If they were not indented, they would look like all the surrounding skin. Again, they appear VERY quickly after sun exposure and the first one has never changed. (There might be some pink coloring if I had been in the sun a bit longer but that fades overnight).
I do have some age spots and my dermatopathologist biopsied and burned off a spot in my hairline in front of my ear a few months ago but it was bright red and the pre-cancerous sun spot. He also removed a keratin bump from my scalp but only because I asked (my hairbrush kept hitting it). It was biopsied and confirmed to be 'nothing'.
I am very fair skinned, grew up in the south and am 62.
I've made an appointment with my dermatologist but your earlier answer has thrown me into full blown panic. I searched 1,000 pictures of those conditions yesterday and can assure you, my spots look nothing like those. In fact, I can't find anything that looks like what I am describing and wondered if it is the earliest stage of a keratosis type thickening or sun damage.
I found the white spots on my arms idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. It's a condition where pigment is loss, stops itself and doesn't progress.
The spots on my nose (there are now three) appeared after a few minutes (5-10) walking in the Georgia winter sun back and forth to a parking spot. NO discoloration, hardening, lumps, bumps, crust, etc. These spots just look like very slightly indented (flat), perfectly round spots. The largest one is about the size of my pinky tip. I have now noticed one on either side of my face that are same size or smaller but think those have been there quite a while. If they were not indented, they would look like all the surrounding skin. Again, they appear VERY quickly after sun exposure and the first one has never changed. (There might be some pink coloring if I had been in the sun a bit longer but that fades overnight).
I do have some age spots and my dermatopathologist biopsied and burned off a spot in my hairline in front of my ear a few months ago but it was bright red and the pre-cancerous sun spot. He also removed a keratin bump from my scalp but only because I asked (my hairbrush kept hitting it). It was biopsied and confirmed to be 'nothing'.
I am very fair skinned, grew up in the south and am 62.
I've made an appointment with my dermatologist but your earlier answer has thrown me into full blown panic. I searched 1,000 pictures of those conditions yesterday and can assure you, my spots look nothing like those. In fact, I can't find anything that looks like what I am describing and wondered if it is the earliest stage of a keratosis type thickening or sun damage.
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For such symptoms, morphea and scleroderma should be ruled out. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disorder which presents with skin thickening, stiffness, and tightness of fingers, hands, and forearm. Sometimes white lumps beneath the skin, sometimes oozing a white substance that looks like toothpaste may be found. You need to get it examined from a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.