Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety And Depression

Question: Hi Dr. Kakkar! You may very well remember me, as you've helped me immensely in the past by reassuringly answering a lot of neurotic skin-related questions (I've been suffering from a lot of health anxiety lately).

I have another (probably neurotic) question....seventeen years ago, back in 2000, my primary care doctor removed about eight or so pigmented lesions from my back by electrodessication and curettage; no biopsies were done. All of the spots were flat, uniform, and brown, none bigger than a pencil eraser, and I probably had them since I was a teenager (I was about 32 when he removed them). He had indicated that they were all normal. About a year prior to that I had visited a dermatologist who examined them and said they were normal.

All that is left now are flat hypopigmented areas (one has a slightly "looser" feel to it). No pigmentation has reappeared and my current dermatologist had examined the areas with no concerns.

I know this is completely neurotic, but now I'm worried that biopsies weren't done at the time. Is it safe to say that now, 17 years later, if any of the spots had been cancerous, there would be visible changes now on the skin?

Im also attaching an image of a small raised spot on my temple area, and was wondering if you can tell me whether it appears to be a fibrous papule? (I have two on my nose). It is firm yet soft. Again, I pointed it out to my dermatologist and she wasn't concerned about it.

Thank you again so very very much for answering my crazy questions!!

Thank you as always Dr Kakkar for your reassurances to my crazy questions!!

One last question....if the lesions removed from my back in 2000 were not benign, I presume that there would be some major changes to those areas, such as the pigment reappearing and something atypical looking? Again, all that are there are flat white hypopigmented spots.

Thank you again!!

Thanks again Doctor! I've said it before, but I cannot tell you how immensely you have helped me deal with my health anxiety by answering my neurotic questions (you know it's bad when I'm questioning things removed seventeen years ago!). I've increased my SSRI which I take, am seeing a therapist, and now I just have to work on resisting the urge to google these medical conditions, which inevitably sends me into a tailspin!

You have been an absolute godsend and once again, I cannot thank you enough for being there for me!

Have a wonderful evening!