help... terrible sores on foreheads!

i was out of town for a week, and had a non-fish friend taking care of
the feeding...

when i got home, both my green severum and my jelly bean cichlid had
these TERRIBLE-looking white wounds on their foreheads... it's almost
like the skin is being eaten away...

i'm pretty sure it's not ick, i know what that looks like. i tried
taking pictures to include here but the fish wouldn't cooperate (they're
not big fans of bright lights)

any help on what it is, and what i should do to save them?

thanks..