For most of his life, Clyde carried a mystery on his forehead—a lump that appeared two years after a cricket ball struck him. Despite multiple attempts to get rid of it, including a failed procedure in Turkey, Clyde had spent 30 years living with the peculiar growth. His journey to finally uncover its nature and bid it farewell aired on The Bad Skin Clinic, where dermatologist Dr. Emma Craythorne helped solve the decades-old riddle.
The Persistent Lump
Clyde, now 57, first noticed the lump two years after the cricket ball incident. It wasn’t painful, but its prominence became a part of his daily life. “Sometimes I’ve laid in bed thinking, ‘Why have I got this?’” he mused. Even his dog, Bonnie, playfully licked the lump every morning, as if to remind him of its presence.
After years of self-consciousness, Clyde sought the expertise of Dr. Emma Craythorne in London. His wife Caroline, who had never known him without the lump, noted how much it had affected his confidence in recent years. Clyde hoped Dr. Emma could provide clarity and, more importantly, a solution.
The Diagnosis: Lipoma
Dr. Craythorne quickly identified the lump as a lipoma. “Lipo means fat, and oma refers to a benign tumor,” she explained. Lipomas are soft, fatty lumps that grow under the skin and are generally harmless. However, their removal often requires surgical intervention.
Clyde’s earlier attempt in Turkey had left him with a scar but no resolution. This added complexity to Dr. Craythorne’s task. She planned a vertical incision to align with the existing scar and carefully remove the lipoma without damaging surrounding tissue.
Surgical Precision
During the procedure, Dr. Craythorne delicately worked around Clyde’s scar tissue. After making the incision, she applied pressure to the area. “Let’s see if we can squeeze it out,” she said. Soon, a significant portion of the lipoma emerged. However, further probing revealed residual lipoma hidden behind scar tissue, which she meticulously removed.
With the lump fully excised, Clyde’s forehead was stitched up. Seeing his reflection for the first time, he was elated. “Oh my God! I’m speechless… It’s round!” he exclaimed. Dr. Craythorne, equally pleased, complimented him: “You’ve got a great shape of a skull”.
A Life Transformed
Caroline’s reaction was just as emotional. “You look so different! Your face, you look so happy,” she said upon seeing her husband post-surgery. Clyde’s newfound confidence was palpable. “I feel a million dollars,” he shared, jokingly planning a night of selfies to celebrate.
For Clyde, the removal of the lump marked more than a physical transformation. “It’s going to totally change the way I feel about myself,” he reflected. Dr. Craythorne’s work had not only restored his appearance but also his self-esteem.
Clyde’s story, featured in The Bad Skin Clinic, highlights the profound impact dermatological care can have on a person’s life. As Dr. Craythorne puts it, “When a skin disease affects the face, it can be devastating—not just physically, but also emotionally and socially. And that’s where I come in”.
Clyde’s episode aired on Episode 2, Season 7 of The Bad Skin Clinic on Really and is available for streaming on Discovery+.