Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic keratoses are benign growths of the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body, but they most often occur on the face, chest, and back. They tend to grow slowly over time.

Some persons have hundreds of individual keratoses. They do not represent cancer, but people who have large numbers of lesions must take care not to assume all lesions are keratoses and thus miss a developing skin cancer.

Seborrheic keratoses do not cause pain or itching. They typically appear as light to dark brown areas on the skin that appear to be "stuck on." Typically, the growth has a defined border that is raised compared to the surrounding skin.

The surface can have an irregular appearance. Sometimes there are small white or black circles within the growth itself. These are known as "horn cysts." Some lesions can grow to a very large size and can appear very dark.

Although the cause of seborrheic keratosis is unknown, the condition does tend to run in families. The condition is more likely as an individual becomes older, and the number of growths generally increases with age.

There is no prevention for seborrheic keratosis.

Most seborrheic keratoses can be recognized as such by a healthcare professional simply from looking at them. However, in a patient being seen for the first time with this condition, a careful examination with a bright flashlight and magnifying lens is in order.

Some seborrheic keratoses may be very dark and could be confused with melanoma, a type of skin cancer. The professional may take a skin biopsy of these areas to make sure there is no evidence of cancer.

Some seborrheic keratoses become very large or unsightly. A person may want to have these removed.

Seborrheic keratoses are not contagious, and pose no risk to others.

Generally, no treatment is needed for seborrheic keratosis. Very large growths or growths that appear on the face or in areas of chronic irritation can be removed. Freezing, burning, scraping or laser are common methods of removal.

Seborrheic keratosis is a harmless skin disorder and no follow-up is necessary. However, any new areas or changes should be examined by the healthcare professional to check for more serious skin disorders.