Skin problems

Q: My 14-year-old has a firm red spot on the side of his nose. It’s not like a pimple with pus. He said he tried popping it, but nothing happened. He’s feeling really self-conscious about it. Any ideas what it might be or how to get rid of it quickly?

A: It sounds as if your son has a vascular (bloody) lesion, a benign growth that appears spontaneously and can last quite a long time. A trip to the dermatologist will help define exactly what this spot is and what you can do to get rid of it. Depending on the type of blood vessels in the lesion, laser therapy may be required.