What is Seborrheic Keratoses?
Seborrheic keratoses are a common skin condition. They are noncancerous skin growths that typically appear as brown, black, or tan in color. Like many other skin conditions, seborrheic keratoses are harmless. You may wish to have your growths removed if they cause discomfort by catching on clothing. They can also be removed for cosmetic reasons.
What Are the Symptoms of Seborrheic Keratoses?
Seborrheic keratoses are commonly recognized by their waxy, scaly, and raised appearance. These growths typically occur in people aged 50 and older. You are more likely to have them if there is a family history of them. People typically have multiple seborrheic keratoses, but there are instances where only one seborrheic keratosis may appear.
These skin growths often appear on your face, chest, shoulders, and back. They can appear in a range of colors, from light tan to black. Seborrheic keratoses are round or oval shaped and are raised. These growths range in size from very small to larger than once inch. They may itch if they become irritated.
Seborrheic Keratoses vs Melanoma
While seborrheic keratoses are harmless and have no connection to cancer, they can sometimes be confused with melanoma. How can you tell the difference in seborrheic keratosis vs melanoma? Seborrheic keratoses usually appears in its final form, while melanoma can often first appear as a wart or a mole.
If you have a history of seborrheic keratoses, you may not notice a mole or wart turning into melanoma. It is best to have your dermatologist examine the area you are concerned about for a professional diagnosis.
Treatment Options
While removing seborrheic keratoses is not a medical necessity, you may prefer to have them removed due to discomfort or for cosmetic reasons. There are 5 common treatments for these skin lesions:
- Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is when the growth is frozen using liquid nitrogen. This is an effective way of removing seborrheic keratoses. Slight discoloration of the treated area is possible. If your seborrheic keratosis is raised and extremely thick, cryosurgery may not be the best treatment option.
- Curettage
Curettage is when the growth and the skin’s surface is scraped away. The area to be treated is numbed and then the dermatologist scrapes away the growth. This treatment can be used in conjunction with cryosurgery to improve results for larger and thicker seborrheic keratoses.
- Electrocautery
Electrocautery consists of burning the growth with an electric current. Similar to curettage, the affected area is numbed before beginning the treatment process. This process can also be used in combination with curettage to treat thicker growths. Electrocautery may cause slight scarring. The procedure can take longer than other procedures to complete.
- Laser Treatments
There are multiple laser treatments that can remove seborrheic keratoses. Laser treatments are effective for removing the growths as they sterilize and remove them at the same time. This leads to a reduction in pain and healing time.
- Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
If your seborrheic keratosis is particularly thick, your dermatologist may prescribe a 40% hydrogen peroxide solution to remove it. While this treatment is effective, it can lead to skin irritation. If mishandled, the solution can cause eye damage.
Discussing your treatment options with your dermatologist will ensure that you are choosing the safest method to remove your skin growths. Having a trained professional remove your lesions is recommended and will reduce the amount of scarring.
While seborrheic keratoses are harmless, our board-certified dermatologists can provide peace of mind by examining your lesions to ensure they are not melanoma. You can also schedule an appointment to have your seborrheic keratoses removed due to discomfort or for cosmetic reasons. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained, board-certified providers.