Olivia Burke
There's a reason why you're told not to mess with the spots on your face - and this woman found it out the hard way.
Steph Warkotsch ended up needing surgery and 30 stitches after interfering with what she thought was a blemish on her left cheek.
The 30-year-old explained that she first spotted the mark in October last year and presumed it was a 'hormonal pimple'.
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Although she was used to 'having the odd spot here and there', Steph said she knew this one 'was out of the ordinary' as it just wouldn't go away.
She tried to draw it out using a face mask and a cold compress, but the blemish wouldn't budge - and over the course of a week, it began to swell significantly in size.
"Even though I'm not prone to blemishes, I thought it was a spot," Steph said. "But as I was trying to draw out the gland and it was only getting bigger, I started to worry.
"The pain was unbearable, and I couldn't sleep properly because I couldn't lie on the left side of my face at all."
Steph headed to her GP, who prescribed her a course of antibiotics, but the spot still hadn't shifted after four weeks. In fact, by November, it's square footage had doubled and it was the same size as a 10-cent piece, while Steph was left to deal with a 'constant throbbing pain' in her face.
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The mum-of-two's GP was reluctant to attempt an extraction, so instead sent Steph for an ultrasound, which is where she finally started to get some answers.
The health councillor, from Melbourne, Australia, was informed that it wasn't just a routine zit on her left cheek, as it was actually a deep-rooted begin sebaceous cyst in her bone and sinuses.
Sebaceous cysts are typically harmless, slow-growing bumps under the skin which are typically found on the face and are filled with 'keratin and cell debris'.
According to Cleveland Clinic, they are usually removed during a surgical procedure to prevent it returning.
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Other health professionals might make a small incision into the cyst to drain the fluid inside of it, which can help improve inflammation and swelling - but it's not a permanent solution.
The experts also warned: "Don’t try popping or draining the cyst yourself. This could cause an infection, and the cyst will likely grow back."
Steph later visited a skin cancer specialist, who informed her that surgical removal would be the best course of action.
She underwent the 30 minute private procedure in mid November for $450 (£229.41) and the cyst was successfully extracted - but she needed 30 stitches.
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However, the surgical team reassured the mum they would 'follow the natural wrinkle and smile line' on her face, meaning that her 'huge' scar will heal 'smoother'.
"I thought they were going to extract it, not remove it," Steph continued. "The procedure was uncomfortable and seeing my face for the first time all stitched up was a shock.
"This is going to be on my face forever and coming to terms with that was hard. But I'm doing better and the scar is going down."
She said she was glad she got booked in for the procedure quickly, as the 'pain and sleepless nights were hard to navigate as a single mum'.
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Speaking of the moment she saw her face, Steph said: "When I first saw my face post-surgery with a clump of stitches, I just cried.
"I thought I'd be scarred for life but it's healing slowly, the clinic kindly instructed me on how to care for the wound."
She documented her skin ordeal on TikTok in videos which have since gone viral, with one racking up more than nine million views.
Now, Steph wants to urge others not to mess around with any thing that pops up on their face.
"I wanted to warn others that a 'spot' might not be a blemish," she said. "You should always seek professional assistance, especially when it comes to your face."