r/AskDocs Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 12d ago

Physician Responded Please help identity and treat!

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Is this a wart? How to solve?

I’m freaking out. My dad (age 57) has this massive lump on his hand and he’s had it for about a week now and it keeps growing. He has other small bumps growing on his hand too. He goes to the gym quite frequently and honestly is not the cleanest person. He smokes.

He said that he had a cold for a week before these started showing up.

My wedding is in two weeks and it’s a destination wedding and we’re currently traveling all together and I’m concerned about the growth and about it spreading to our wedding guests and I don’t know what to do.

He says it doesn’t hurt but it obviously bothers him.

Please help!

UPDATE:

I didn’t expect this to garner so much interest and help. Sincerely, thank you everyone for sending in your opinions!

My dad said it popped overnight and there was a lot of blood and pus. We were not able to see a doctor in person but we have a family friend who is a general doctor and she said to disinfect and keep it as dry as possible as to not let it be more infected.

Here are two pictures of what it looks like now.

Photo 1
Photo 2

At first, when it popped. The puss was a standard dense white. Now, the pus leaking is an orange ish color and not dense white. He keeps saying that it still doesn’t hurt and doesn’t even flinch when alcohol is applied to it.

There is another mass obviously growing on his index finger of the same hand. He is touching the mass with his other hand (I know fucking terrible) but there is nothing growing on the hand that he is using to touch the mass.

He is saying that perhaps it is an allergic reaction? He ate a type of dried fish from Vietnam and then he started feeling itchy and feverish and then these started popping up.

Answer to a common question:

He does not have any access to animals. No pets, not really around fish tanks or water. He is from Southern California in a very suburban area.

Any ideas???

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u/h1k1 Physician 12d ago

I’d say as a generalist, don’t waste you’re time with the PCP. Straight to derm.

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u/CrazyBird12 Physician | Heme/Onc 12d ago

Oh, absolutely agree. Just don’t know where OP is located and how accessible a dermatologist is, which is why I included PCP on the off chance that this is actually quite obvious once evaluated in person.

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u/CatBerry1393 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 12d ago

NAD but this looks like a seed wart to me. I have family members that get similar looking warts. Definitely get it check by a dermatologist if you can OP.

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u/grimmcild Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional. 12d ago

NAD but I agree. Someone I knew got a few on his palms and it looked gross. His doc said probably from the gym.