I've had a blocked pore for a year – what should I do?

Shh! Anti-agers no one but you need know about: I’ve had a blocked pore for a year – what should I do?

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Q I’m 71 and have had a blocked pore on my chest for over a year. Recently it’s turned swollen and painful. My GP locum told me the NHS don’t deal with this and it may just go away. But I want it removed; should I go to a private dermatologist? 

A ‘That sounds like an epidermoid cyst,’ says NHS and private consultant dermatologist Dr Mary Sommerlad.

‘They are harmless but can get infected in which case you need a course of oral antibiotics. Frustratingly, they are not routinely removed on the NHS any more, and we normally recommend leaving them alone, although if they are bothersome, and it sounds like yours is, they may be removed in a local NHS lumps-and-bumps clinic so I would recommend pushing for this if you can. Many have closed due to cost savings but do enquire with your GP to see if one runs in your area.’ 

An anonymous 71-year-old reveals that they’ve had a blocked pore on their chest for over a year now. They ask Inge Van Lotringen what they can do as their GP has told them the NHS won’t help them

Inge Van Lotringen (pictured)  suggests getting the cyst removed privately. She explains how they are not currently removed on the NHS

Alternatively, she says, these cysts are easily removed privately. ‘In my private capacity, I charge £950 to examine the cyst and excise it under local anaesthetic, then send it for histology (to determine if there are any cancerous cells).’ 

Dr Sommerlad is based in London (108harleystreet.co.uk). For other private dermatologists around the country, you can look on doctify.com.

• Email your questions to Ingeborg van Lotringen, author of Great Skin, at [email protected]. 

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