Middle child had a mole pop up on his forehead somewhere around 4 or 5 years of age

We've had it looked at many times and it's nothing. offered to have it removed many times and it's not that big and not that noticeable, so he's never had it removed.

fast forward to last week. he's 21, in College Station, Swears no alcohol was involved, but ended up on his face. The "mole" is now flat and he said green awful smelling stuff was running down his face.

I've watched too much Sandra Lee, Dr. Pimple Popper, and think this has been a small cyst the entire time.

that said, won't it fill back up over time if we don't get the sac out?

we're thinking Thanksgiving or Christmas to have it removed.

What do the pros on Texags think?

~G

A mole and a cyst!

Likely a cyst based on the contents expressed. If the sac isn't removed it may or may not reaccumulate. Waiting until Thanksgiving should be plenty of time to figure out what to do.

was the mole a different color than his normal skin color?

Sounds like a glabellar cyst, pretty rare but I've seen a few. Usually ENT like to take them out due to the proximity to the sinuses. He needs to visit urgent care as it sounds like it is infected and you don't want it to get worse then can get elective removal later.

Same color as his skin. Smaller than a pea.

He has a small carpet burn on his forehead and the mole/cyst is flat with a tiny scab on it.

The dermatologist he's seen said it was a mole and it required plastic surgery. ...a long time ago.

I think that is a little over kill, but I am not a Dr.

Googled "glabellar cyst" and Dr. Pimple Popper YouTube came right up...

This little mole/cyst is near his hair line. not near his nose / eyebrows.

I appreciate the replies.

~G

It sounds like a sebaceous cyst that got infected. The only thing that makes me think otherwise is that a dermatologist should be able to easily tell the difference between a sebaceous cyst and a nevus (mole). Wait for it to "cool down", see a dermatologist or ENT or plastic surgeon afterwards.

Back in my twenties, I had a marble-sized lump in the back of my neck. It wasn't painful and the doctor said it was probably a sub sebaceous cyst. A few years down the line I'm watching TV and feel wetness on my neck. The thing was leaking. I went to the shower and pressed/squeezed it out, so foul. Never came back.

I had a cyst on the top of my forehead. An ENT surgically removed it. Definitely recommend that.

out of curiosity, why would I go see an ENT to have it removed?

I think both our dermatologist and ENT are great and like the ENT better, but I wouldn't think it would be in the ENT's area of expertise.

just curious.

~G

I was referred to an ENT when I asked a doctor about it. So you can see a regular doctor first and get their opinion. But I think that is a regular function of an ENT.

Mainly because it is hard to tell how deep they go. If very superficial derm is fine but if it extends into the sinus area ENT is much more prepared.

Mole or cyst is the worst game show ever

** Follow Up **

After the above recommended "cooling off period..." i.e. the rug burns on his nose and forehead are gone. Said son went to the dermatologist today and Dr. said it is a mole that had a cystic pimple behind it.

it is still flat and he's decided to do nothing with it. He will have it and others checked annually and if it swells up again he will have it removed.

I appreciate the responses and still think this from 90 Bull is funny as $h!t...

"Mole or cyst is the worst game show ever..."