Seborrheic Keratosis

A seborrheic keratosis is a type of skin growth. They can be unsightly, but the growths aren’t harmful. However, in some cases a seborrheic keratosis can be difficult to distinguish from melanoma, a very serious type of skin cancer.

If your skin changes unexpectedly, you should always have it looked at by a doctor.

A seborrheic keratosis (plural: seborrheic keratoses) is usually easily identified by appearance.

Location

Multiple lesions may appear, although at the beginning there may be just one. Growths can be found on many areas of the body, including the:

• chest
• scalp
• shoulders
• back
• abdomen

Growths are found on the soles of the feet or the palms.

Texture

Growths often start out as small, rough areas. Over time, they tend to develop a thick, wart-like surface. They’re often described as having a "stuck-on" appearance.

They may also look waxy and have slightly raised surfaces.

Shape

Growths are usually round or oval-shaped.

Color

Growths are usually brown, but they can also be yellow, white, or black.

Risk factors for this condition include:

Older Age

The condition often develops in those who are middle-aged. Risk increases with age.

Family Members with Seborrheic Keratosis

This skin condition often runs in families. Risk increases with the number of affected relatives.

Frequent Sun Exposure

There is some evidence that skin exposed to the sun is more likely to develop a seborrheic keratosis. However, growths also appear on skin that is usually covered up when people go outdoors.

A seborrheic keratosis isn’t dangerous, but you shouldn’t ignore growths on your skin. It can be difficult to distinguish between harmless and dangerous growths. Something that looks like seborrheic keratosis could actually be melanoma.

Have a doctor check your skin if:

• there’s a new growth
• there’s a change in appearance of an existing growth
• there’s only one growth (seborrheic keratosis usually causes several)
• a growth has an unusual color, such as purple, blue, or reddish-black
• a growth has borders that are irregular (blurred or jagged)
• a growth is irritated or painful

If you’re worried about any growth, make an appointment with your doctor. It’s better to be too cautious than ignore a potentially serious problem.

A dermatologist will often be able to diagnose seborrheic keratosis by eye. If there’s any uncertainty, they’ll likely remove part or all of the growth. This is called a skin biopsy.

The biopsy will be examined under a microscope by a trained pathologist. This can help your doctor diagnose the growth as either seborrheic keratosis or cancer (such as malignant melanoma).

In many cases, a seborrheic keratosis doesn’t need treatment. However, a doctor may decide to remove any growths that have a suspicious appearance or cause physical or emotional discomfort.

Methods of Removal

Three commonly used removal methods are electrosurgery, and curettage.

In cryosurgery, the growth is frozen off using liquid nitrogen.

Electrosurgery uses an electrical current to scrape the growth off. The area is numbed before the procedure.

A curettage is a scoop-like surgical instrument that is used to scrape the growth. A curettage is sometimes used with electrosurgery.

Your skin may be lighter at the site of removal. The difference in skin color often becomes less noticeable over time. Most of the time a seborrheic keratosis won’t return, but it’s possible to develop a new one on another part of your body.