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Could this be skin cancer?
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Could this be skin cancer?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Could this be skin cancer?

  • Post
    • March 26, 2023 at 8:26 pm
    tj123
    Participant
      Hello,

      I had been working with some organic substances a few months ago. After working with them, my face became red. I figured it would go away after a couple weeks, but it has only gotten worse. I saw a Dermatologist and he gave me hydrocortisone cream. It didn’t really help. I have been using vitamin e mainly.

      The skin on my face has a burning sensation. It’s red, dry and feels like sandpaper.

      I took a photo of my skin and I was wondering if this could be cancer.

      View post on imgur.com

      skin cancer?

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    • Replies
        • March 29, 2023 at 11:21 pm
        JudiAU
        Participant
          Although my mom and my grandma were always putting vitamin E on everything every time I’ve asked a dermatologist or oncologist they always say it is more likely to cause irritation than any healing benefit. I certainly don’t recognize that as cancer but it certainly looks enflamed and uncomfortable. I would visit your derm again, after a period of very neutral care.
          • March 30, 2023 at 8:10 am
          tj123
          Participant
            Hi JudiAU – Thanks for your reply!

            That’s interesting that a dermatologist would say that vitamin e would cause irritation. I have heard that vitamin e has very effective healing properties for the skin. I believe it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. I think it’s actually naturally occurring in the skin itself. Here’s some information I found about it:

            Vitamin E for Skin: What Does It Do?

            What I have heard is that things like Vaseline are not good for your skin. One is because it is essentially a product made from oil that you would use for your car. It is alternatively called “petroleum jelly”. So what this does is it creates an unnatural barrier between your skin and the air. It feels as though it’s moisturizing your skin, but it really is just creating a waterproof barrier which might be harmful for the skin.

            I have scheduled another appointment with the dermatologist. I think he’s a bit stumped on my situation. I was using tree saps and turpentine to create a glue. I’m not sure if the particular sap that I used had some sort of organic acid in it that chemically burnt the skin, or if perhaps there was poison ivy in the raw sap that got into the smoke.

            I have had the problem for 3 months. I would have thought it would have disappeared by now. I’m hoping it’s not chronic. Really the only that helps relieve the pain is Vitamin E. Without Vitamin E it is painful. It’s a bit of a mystery what the problem is. Allergic reaction? Chemical burn? Contact Dermatitis? Dioxins?

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