He Thought It Was Just an Annoying Ingrown Hair, But What He Found Will Blow Your Mind!

A man has issued a stark warning to other “stubborn” men not to ignore unusual symptoms, after what he thought was a harmless ingrown hair turned out to be skin cancer. Simon Heaton, a football manager from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, shared his shocking experience in hopes of encouraging others to take better care of their skin.

Simon, who “takes pride in his appearance,” first noticed a small, pinprick-sized spot on his left cheekbone about three years ago. Initially, it disappeared after a few weeks, but it reappeared later, causing him to grow a beard to cover it up. At the time, Simon thought it was just an ingrown hair or pimple, something he didn’t think much about. But as time passed, the spot started to grow, raising concerns.

The growth continued to expand until it reached a size of 4mm in diameter. Simon, who manages the non-league Abbey Hey Football Club, was eventually persuaded by his mother to see a doctor. She urged him to get the spot checked out, and in July 2023, Simon’s visit to the GP led to a surprising diagnosis. The doctor referred him to a dermatologist, who suspected that the spot could be cancerous.

The results came back quickly. The growth was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. Simon underwent surgery to have the growth removed, leaving a three-inch scar. Now, he’s facing a six-week wait for further tests to confirm whether the cancer has spread and if additional treatment will be needed.

Simon, a former sunbed enthusiast, is sharing his story to highlight the importance of early detection. He’s especially keen to warn “stubborn blokes” who might dismiss unusual spots as minor issues, urging them to get checked out right away.

“I noticed a little pinprick-sized pimple on my face three years ago. I thought it was a spot, left it, it disappeared, then a couple of weeks later it came back a little bit bigger,” Simon recalled. “It wasn’t sore, but I knew it was there and it was annoying me. I thought it was an ingrown hair so I had a little bit of a mess with it.”

Simon, who prides himself on looking well-groomed, decided to grow a beard to cover the spot, which seemed to help him forget about it. But as the spot continued to grow, it began to scab and weep, following an eight-week cycle. He said, “With the beard, no one could see it, so I just lived with it.”

However, after the spot persisted and his mother urged him to seek medical attention, Simon finally took action. Reflecting on his past, he admitted that he had spent years using sunbeds without sunscreen, which could have contributed to his skin cancer.

“In my 20s, I would go on sunbeds three times a week for six minutes without using suncream,” Simon confessed. “When I went on summer holidays, as soon as that sun was up, I’d be on a sunlounger until the sun went down.”

At his GP appointment, Simon was shocked when the doctor suspected the spot could be skin cancer. The doctor referred him to a dermatologist, who confirmed the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, a common form of non-melanoma skin cancer.

For men who think they can ignore small changes in their skin, Simon has a straightforward message: “I now wear a factor 50 moisturising cream every day. My advice to blokes who think it’s just a spot or ingrowing hair would be to 100% go to your doctors and get it checked out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Basal cell carcinoma is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer that forms in the skin’s top layer. The primary cause of this cancer is ultraviolet (UV) light, whether from natural sunlight or artificial sources like sunbeds. People who are frequently exposed to the sun, especially those with pale skin, are at higher risk.

Symptoms of basal cell carcinoma include growths or unusual patches on the skin that may change in appearance over time. These growths are most commonly found in areas exposed to the sun, like the face, neck, and shoulders. Although basal cell carcinoma can usually be treated successfully, early detection is crucial.

Simon’s surgery took an hour, and although the scar is noticeable now, he was reassured that it would likely be hidden by his beard as it heals. “The surgeons were absolutely fantastic,” Simon said. “One said because of my beard line, he was going to change the angle of the incision a bit so when it does heal, the scar won’t be seen.”

For now, Simon remains positive and hopeful, awaiting his follow-up appointment in six weeks. His message to others is clear: don’t ignore the signs, and get checked out as soon as something feels off. With skin cancer, early action can make all the difference.

“Better to be safe than sorry,” Simon emphasized. “They can catch things early and stop them from happening again.”

Checking for Skin Cancer

If you’ve noticed a new mole or unusual mark on your skin, don’t dismiss it. Familiarize yourself with how your skin normally looks so you can notice any changes. The ABCDE rule can help you assess moles:

• A for Asymmetry: Melanomas are often uneven in shape.
• B for Border: Melanomas usually have ragged or notched borders.
• C for Colour: Moles with multiple colours may be cancerous.
• D for Diameter: Most melanomas are larger than 6mm.
• E for Elevation: If a mole changes in size or shape over time, it’s worth getting checked.

Not all suspicious moles are cancerous, but it’s always better to get checked by a doctor. If you have any doubts about a skin growth, seek medical advice immediately.