Seborrheic Keratosis

Description

• Seborrheic keratoses are very common, benign (non-cancerous) skin growths that often appear with age. They can look like waxy, “stuck-on” patches or raised spots in shades of tan, brown, or black. Their surface may be smooth, rough, or wart-like.

  These growths can appear anywhere on the body except the palms and soles, and many people develop several over time. Seborrheic keratoses are harmless and not contagious, but they can sometimes be mistaken for skin cancer because of their appearance.

When should I come in? 

Most seborrheic keratoses do not need treatment. However, you should schedule a skin exam if:

• A spot is new, changing, or looks different from your other SKs

• The growth becomes itchy, irritated, or bleeds

• You’re uncertain whether a spot is a harmless SK or a skin cancer

• The lesion is cosmetically bothersome and you’d like it removed

Treatment, if desired, may include cryotherapy (freezing), gentle scraping, or laser removal.

How is treated?

• No treatment is necessary since seborrheic keratoses are benign (non-cancerous) and harmless.

• Removal may be recommended if the lesion is:

  • Irritated by clothing or friction

  • Itchy or painful

  • Bleeding or crusting

  • Cosmetically bothersome

  • Uncertain in appearance (to rule out skin cancer)

• Treatment options include:

  • Cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen): Freezing the lesion until it falls off.

  • Electrocautery: Using heat to carefully burn and remove it.

  • Shave removal: Gently removing the raised portion of the growth.

  • Laser treatment: Sometimes used for cosmetic results.

These are quick, in-office procedures with little downtime. Once removed, seborrheic keratoses generally do not come back in the same spot, though new ones may develop elsewhere.