Seborrheic Keratosis - Symptoms & Treatment

Seborrheic keratosis is the presence of a benign (non-cancerous) raised growth on the skin. There may be just one growth or many which occur in clusters. They are usually brown, but can vary in color from light tan to black and range in size from a fraction of an inch in diameter to larger than a half-dollar. A main feature of Seborrheic Keratoses is their waxy, “pasted-on” or “stuck-on” appearance. They sometimes look like a dab of warm brown candle wax that has dropped onto the skin or like barnacles attached to the skin. Seborrheic Keratoses is not a contagious disease and is not easily spread from one person to other. Seborrheic keratosis is a benign form of skin tumor. It commonly appears after age 40. They often appear on the back or chest but are also common on the scalp, face, arms, and legs. Seborrheic keratoses grow slowly, in groups or singly. Most people will develop at least one seborrheic keratosis during their lifetime. The tumors appear as wart-like growths in a variety of colors. They may appear in large numbers on the surface of the body. They are usually painless and benign, but may become irritated and itch. They may be cosmetically disfiguring and psychologically distressing as a result.

Seborrheic Keratoses are often confused with warts or moles, but they are quite different. Seborrheic means greasy and keratosis means thickening of skin. The growths arise from the top layer of skin and can have a ‘stuck-on' look. These growths may look like warts but don't extend deep into the skin or contain the viruses that cause warts. Seborrheic Keratoses are the most common skin lesion. It tend to be most common on sun-exposed areas in older patients. Some patients may have dozens of them, most commonly on the face, neck and trunk. They have no malignant potential. Because they are very superficial lesions, they can be removed by a variety of methods with little or no scarring.

Causes of Seborrheic Keratosis

The cause of seborrheic keratoses is unknown. Another main cause of Seborrheic Keratoses is a family history of barnacles of aging. Seborrheic keratoses are more common and numerous with advancing age. Although Seborrheic Keratoses may first appear in one spot and seem to spread to another, they are not contagious. Seborrheic keratoses primarily affect people older than 30. Some women notice that they develop them during pregnancy or after taking estrogen . They are increasingly common in the later decades of life. Children seldom develop these skin growths.

Find common causes and risk factors of Seborrheic Keratosis :

• Sun exposure, is the main cause of seborrheic keratosis.
• Another main cause of Seborrheic Keratoses is a family history of barnacles of aging.
• They are caused by abnormal increase of melanin in the epidermal layers of the skin.

Signs and Symptoms of Seborrheic Keratosis

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• They vary in color from white to light tan to black.
• Papules.
• Yellow-brown warts.
• Small raised warts.
• Areas of excessive skin pigmentation.
• May be itchy.
• Usually have a round or oval shape.

Treatment for Seborrheic Keratosis

Treatment may include:

• It is a cold liquefied gas that is sprayed on the skin with a spray gun. The treatment is repeated three times.
• It is another effective method used for the treatment of barnacles of aging. The growth is first numbed, then burned using an electric current, and scraped off.
• Curettage: The unwanted growth of skin are removed by "curetting," or scraping them from the surface of the skin. To numb the affected area, an injection or spray is first used. No stitches are necessary, and bleeding is very limited.