Skin Cancer: Q&A
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How to Tell the Difference Between Rosacea and BCC?
Since the birth of my son 10 months ago, I have developed Rosacea. I also have a history of basal cell (2 removed on my face with MOHS). I would like to prevent more or catch them early to keep facial defects to a minimum. My doctor told me both spots were Rosacea, and was wrong when I insisted on a biopsy.
I am checked every 2-3 months, but I still find the spots myself. How can I tell the difference between Rosacea and BCC? I use doxycycline and Metrogel. I have not used laser for fear of camouflaging BCC.
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2 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
Shannon Decker
+1
Finding BCC's in rosacea can be difficult
Finding and evaluating skin lesions in a background of skin can disease can be very difficult. Rosacea on the skin comes in many forms (erythematotelangiectatic, papulo-pustular, glandular) and many people have features of all three forms. Basal cell carcinomas also come in many forms (nodular, superficial, morpheaform, etc). As you can imagine, there can are many features common to both conditions (bumps, blood vessels, location of the conditions, location)
Regular self-exams and...
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Summit Dermatologic Surgeon
+1
Occasionally Hard
It actually sounds like you were right and not wrong to insist on a biopsy.
Usually it is quite easy to tell the difference with the erythematotelangiectatic type of Rosacea. This is the type in which there is a sheet of redness spread across the center of the face, often times with small blood vessels called telangiectasias.A basal cell carcinoma will appear as a pearly, shiny papule or nodule oftentimes with a telangiectasia ( wiry thin blood vessel) perched on its top or emanating...
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