If you’ve got a pimple that just won’t heal or go away, it might be worth running it by your dermatologist, says TikTok’s Dr Karan Raj.
What looks like a benign spot or pimple could in fact be a basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, one of the most common types of skin cancer.
TikTok doctor sounds alarm on potentially carcinogenic ‘pimples’
“This one presented like a pimple but ended up a basal cell carcinoma,” Dr Karan Raj says, over a video of a woman with what appears to be just a mild blemish on her cheek. He regularly posts videos on personal health to his TikTok channel.
What to look out for? “Rolled pearly edges,” Dr Raj continues. He points out another that has a little blood vessel visible beneath its surface. Ulcerations, too, are worth keeping an eye on.
“Sometimes basal cell carcinomas” – or BCCs – “even masquerade as rashes or dry spots, and don’t go away even with anti-fungals or moisturisers.” Why? Because they’re not fungal infections.
Common fungal infections include ringworm and eczema. If you’re treating what you think is a fungal infection with an anti-fungal gel or cream, and it’s not showing signs of abating, it’s probably not fungal.
Skin cancer doesn’t always manifest as a black or brown spot
Nor do melanomas always change rapidly.
Basal cell carcinomas are “incredibly slow growing” and “aren’t always pigmented”. This means they can be the same color as your natural skin tone, and blend in as a result.
He then shows a picture of a BCC on someone with dark skin, to illustrate what they can look like in such cases.
Mayo Clinic clarifies that BCC begins in the basal cells. These are cells within the skin, which produce new skin cells as old ones die off. It usually appears as a “slightly transparent bump” on the skin, although it can take other forms.
Most such carcinomas are thought to be caused by long term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, from sunlight. For this reason, they most often appear on areas of the skin that spend longest under direct sunlight, such as the face. Find Dr Raj’s video below.
Other risk factors of basal cell carcinoma
There are several factors besides prolonged exposure to UV radiation that increase risk of BCC. Some are controllable; some aren’t. They include:
- Radiation therapy, such as people receive to treat acne or other skin conditions
- Having fair skin – people who freckle or burn easily are more prone to them
- Getting old – BCCs can take decades to develop, so older people are naturally more likely to have developed them
- A family history of skin cancer
- Immune-suppressing drugs
- Exposure to arsenic
The good news is that there are things you can do, or not do, to reduce the risk of developing basal cell carcinomas, other types of skin cancer. Wearing protective clothing and applying sunscreen year-round are two of the most obvious, and easiest.
You can also avoid direct sunlight during the middle of the day, when the sun’s rays are at their fiercest; avoid tanning beds; and check your skin regularly, and carefully, to identify anything that appears out of the ordinary.
Dr. Karan is a certified NHS surgeon from London and shares medicine and health videos across different platforms. He currently acts as a lecturer at Sunderland University with more than seven years of experience.
