Comments on: Where Did the Two Year Whitehead Go?

Question: Where Did the Two Year Whitehead Go?

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 14:50:41 -0800

Dermatology question.

I've had this small whitehead/zit-like thing on my forehead for the last, oh, two or three years. And at some point in the last few days it disappeared or "popped." Just plain went away, basically, although I'm not sure how.

The main question: What was it? Can a zit last on your face for two years or more without popping? Was it some benign growth? An ingrown hair? What, exactly? I'm not really worried from a health standpoint, per se, but I am really curious.

By: clarahamster

clarahamster — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:20:09 -0800

Could it have been a small wart? I had a wart on my arm for several years and one day it was just gone.

By: tristeza

tristeza — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:22:06 -0800

Possibly a sebaceous cyst - totally benign and harmless "white zit" filled with sebum (hair/skin oil). They can hang out for years and years, never grow, don't bother you, then just disappear.

By: oflinkey

oflinkey — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:35:43 -0800

Sounds like milia. I have them all the time.

By: matteo

matteo — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:37:54 -0800

what tristeza siad

By: tristeza

tristeza — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:38:25 -0800

I'd like to retract my answer - I think oflinkey is dead on

By: MsVader

MsVader — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 06:50:26 -0800

I think I might have one of these. Just appeared within the last couple of weeks. Is there any way to get rid of it? Or help it along?

Also - I get similar bumps on my eyelids occasionally. Are these the same thing, or are they different (considering they're around the eyes)?

By: UnclePlayground

UnclePlayground — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 09:36:59 -0800

Also - I get similar bumps on my eyelids occasionally.

I believe this is called a "stye" and can be looked at by your family physician. I was taken to E.R. in high school after one became so enlarged that the dr. lanced it, causing it to burst over the surface of my eye.
IANAD, but I was told to wash my eyes with baby shampoo, to reduce the bacteria and other gunk that can clog up the pores around the eyes.

By: nflorin

nflorin — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 09:38:47 -0800

MsVader, if the eyelid bumps are a little worse than the other bumps then they are likely styes.

By: denimflavored

denimflavored — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 10:48:39 -0800

I have a tiny one beside my nose and was wondering the same thing over the weekend. I'm glad someone asked.
The article says "As the surface of the white pearly bump wears away, the trapped dead skin is lost, and the bump disappears." I'm guessing that means that exfoliation would help?