I have a spot or bump on the nose – what could it be?
A spot on the nose or bump on the nose is a common reason for seeing a Dermatologist. Here we explore the common causes of a spot on the nose.
1. Mole
A fleshy mole is common on the nose and can be brown or skin coloured.
A mole on the nose is usually dome-shaped and may have hair growing through it.
A mole on the nose will usually have been there for several years. There is usually little, if any, change in size or appearance over time.
Moles on the nose can be removed by cosmetic mole removal.
2. Fibrous papule of the nose.
A fibrous papule is another common cause of a spot on the nose that is also dome-shaped. It is usually pink and firm. A fibrous papule can be a tiny bump or measure as wide as 6mm.
It is formed from excessive skin tissue and blood vessels. The blood vessels make it look pink. Even so, a fibrous papule does not usually bleed.
A fibrous papule usually develops in the teenage years or in early adulthood. A fibrous papule can be removed by scrape removal or cauterisation. When a fibrous papule is very large, it may look just like a mole and is sometimes hard to distinguish.
3. Sebaceous gland hyperplasia.
Sebaceous gland hyperplasia is an overgrowth of the sebaceous gland and appears like a yellow spot with a tiny depression in the centre.
There may be fine blood vessels running over it. Sebaceous gland hyperplasia can be removed by radiofrequency.
4. Spider naevus.
A spider nevus is a skin artery that has become dilated. It looks like a red spot that is about 1 mm wide. There may be a pink blush around it as tiny thread veins around it also form. A spider naevus is treated with radiofrequency.
5. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a common form of skin cancer that occurs in those who are fair and have spent a lot of time in the sun. It is usually a problem in those over 40 but is increasingly being seen in younger people.
A nodular BCC is usually a pink and shiny spot that grows gradually and eventually starts to scab and bleed. Sometimes it scabs and then looks like it is healing, only to scab again. A superficial BCC looks like a shiny pink patch. Sometimes a raised rolled edge is seen. A morphoeic BCC is very subtle and looks like an expanding scar.
A BCC can be diagnosed by a Dermatologist. A dermatoscope helps pick up very early and subtle BCCs/ A biopsy is taken to confirm a diagnosis and the main treatment is Mohs surgery.
6. Actinic keratosis.
Actinic keratosis is a form of superficial sun damage. It is usually a thin pink patch that is rough. An actinic keratosis does not bleed or scab.
7. Seborrhoeic keratosis
Seborrhoeic keratosis is a very common lesion. It is a warty skin growth that occurs from wear and tear. It can be thin, tan-coloured and very subtle or more obvious where it is raised and rough.
8. Sunspots
Sunspots are dark brown flat circular marks on the skin. They occur because of too much sun exposure.
