Topic Overview
What are seborrheic keratoses?
Seborrheic keratoses (say "seh-buh-REE-ick kair-uh-TOH-seez") are
skin growths that some people get as they age. They are benign, which means
they are not a type of cancer. The way they look may bother you, but they
aren't harmful.
These skin growths
often appear on the back or chest, but they can occur on any part of the body.
They grow slowly, and they may appear as single growths or in groups.
Seborrheic keratoses don't spread from person to person. There is no
known way to prevent them.
These skin growths are common in
middle-aged people, but they can appear as early as the teen years. Some women get them during pregnancy or after taking
estrogen. Children seldom have them.
What causes seborrheic keratoses?
Experts don't
know what causes seborrheic keratoses. But research has found that:1
- They tend to run in
families.
- They seem to be related to sun exposure.
What are the symptoms?
Seborrheic keratoses
usually cause no symptoms. But they can itch, bleed easily, or become red and
irritated when clothing rubs them.
How seborrheic keratoses look
can vary widely. They:
- Range in color from white to light tan to
black. Most are brown. Some are multicolored.
- Range in size from
tiny to larger than 1 in. (3 cm)
in
diameter.
- Range in texture from waxy and smooth to velvety to dry,
rough, and bumpy.
They also:
- May have dry scale, which you can easily pick
off, or have a surface that crumbles when picked.
- Can be
dome-shaped with tiny white or black "horns" growing from the surface.
- Can occur as a cluster of growths.
- Can look like
skin tags (small, soft pieces of skin that stick out
on a thin stem).
- Can swell and turn red.
- Slowly grow
over time and seldom go away on their own.
These growths may be mistaken for
warts,
moles,
skin tags, or
melanoma (skin cancer).
How are seborrheic keratoses diagnosed?
Your doctor
will look at the skin growth. He or she may need to take a sample (biopsy) of the
growth to rule out cancer if the growth:
- Itches or bleeds.
- Becomes
inflamed and red.
- Is dark brown to black.
How are they treated?
Seborrheic keratoses don't
need to be treated. But if one bothers you or you don't like how it looks, your
doctor can remove it. Your doctor may freeze it off, cut it out, or use a tool
that burns it off.
These growths aren't harmful and don't
have to be treated, so your insurance company may not pay for having them removed.
Should you worry about seborrheic keratoses?
A
diagnosed seborrheic keratosis is nothing to worry about. But if you are unsure
what type of skin growth you have, see your doctor. It may be hard to tell
whether the growth is a keratosis, a mole, a wart, or skin cancer.
If you have a dark skin growth or any growths that form quickly, call your
doctor right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Learning about seborrheic keratosis:
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Being diagnosed:
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Getting treatment:
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Symptoms
Seborrheic keratoses
are common skin growths that usually cause no symptoms. They
are benign, which means they are not cancerous. But they can itch, bleed
easily, or become red and irritated when clothing rubs them.
Seborrheic keratoses can grow on any part of the body in clusters or
singly. They occur most commonly on the back or chest. They often look like
they have been pasted onto the skin. They can be flat or raised and can vary in
appearance. Seborrheic keratoses:
- Range in color from white to light tan to
black. Most are brown. Some are multicolored.
- Range in size from
tiny to larger than 1 in. (3 cm) in
diameter.
- Range in texture from waxy and smooth to velvety to dry,
rough, and bumpy.
- May have dry scale, which you can easily pick
off.
- Can have a surface that crumbles when picked.
- Can
be dome-shaped with tiny white or black "horns" growing from the
surface.
- Can be in a cluster of different-colored
growths.
- Can resemble
skin tags (small, soft pieces of skin that stick out
on a thin stem).
- Can swell and turn red without apparent
cause.
- Slowly grow over time, and seldom go away on their
own.
The tendency to have seborrheic keratoses that grow in
clusters seems to run in families and may be passed down from parent to child.
In rare cases, a sudden growth of many seborrheic keratoses is related to
cancer elsewhere in the body.
Several
other skin conditions, such as warts and skin cancer, can look like seborrheic
keratosis.
Exams and Tests
Your doctor can diagnose most
seborrheic keratoses by doing a visual exam. He or she
will look for the common appearance of a rough and bumpy surface. You may need a
skin biopsy to rule out cancer if you have growths
that:
- Itch or bleed.
- Become inflamed and
red.
- Are dark brown to black.
Treatment Overview
Seborrheic keratoses
do not require treatment, because they are not cancerous or
otherwise damaging to your health. But if a seborrheic keratosis causes pain
and discomfort or causes you concern about how it looks, your doctor can remove
it.
Your treatment choices are:
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Cryotherapy, the use of extreme cold.
It works well for flat or slightly raised growths, but it may not work well for
thicker growths.
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Curettage, in which
your doctor uses a spoon-shaped instrument (curette) to remove the growth.
Regrowth is common after curettage alone.
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Electrocautery (or
electrodesiccation), which sends a low-voltage electrical charge through the
tip of a needle to burn off a growth. This treatment is sometimes combined with
curettage.
- Surgical excision, the removal of the growth with a
scalpel after your doctor injects a local anesthetic.
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Laser, an intense beam of light that burns and
destroys the growth.
What To Think About
Your doctor can tell you which
treatments are best for your seborrheic keratosis, based on its type, size, and
location. Be aware that your health insurance may view seborrheic keratosis
removal as an elective procedure.
After a seborrheic keratosis is
removed, the wound may be painful for a few days. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to clean and care for your wound.
Flat seborrheic keratoses are often much easier to remove. Your doctor may suggest a topical cream such as tretinoin, or use laser resurfacing, cryotherapy, or a chemical peel.
Removal of
seborrheic keratoses is usually done in a way to minimize scarring.
Cryotherapy, electrocautery, or laser treatment may cause permanent lightening
of darker skin. And things that may slow healing include advanced age, sun damage,
and tobacco smoking.
Home Treatment
If clothing and daily activities
irritate a
seborrheic keratosis, you can cover it with an
adhesive bandage to prevent rubbing and bleeding.
If you have had
a seborrheic keratosis removed, your doctor will tell you how to care for the
wound as it heals.
Other Places To Get Help
Organization
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American Academy of Dermatology
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| P.O. Box 4014 |
| Schaumburg, IL 60168 |
| Phone: |
1-866-503-SKIN (1-866-503-7546) toll-free
(847) 240-1280 |
| Fax: |
(847) 240-1859 |
| Web Address: |
www.aad.org |
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The American Academy of Dermatology provides information
about the care of skin, hair, and nails. You can find a dermatologist in your
area by calling 1-888-462-DERM (1-888-462-3376).
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References
Citations
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Thomas VC, et al. (2008). Seborrheic keratosis section
of benign epithelial tumors, hamartomas, and hyperplasias. In K Wolff et al.,
eds., Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th
ed., vol. 1, pp. 1054–1056. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
Other Works Consulted
- Hall JC (2010). Seborrheic keratoses section of Tumors of the skin. In JC Hall, ed., Sauer's Manual of Skin Diseases, 9th ed., pp. 280–284. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
- Motley RJ (2010). Seborrheic keratosis. In MG Lebwohl et al., eds., Treatment of Skin Disease, 3rd ed., pp. 697–698. Edinburgh: Saunders Elsevier.
Credits
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By
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Healthwise Staff |
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Primary Medical Reviewer
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Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
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Specialist Medical Reviewer
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Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology |
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Last Revised
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January 28, 2011 |