Seborrheic Keratosis

What are seborrheic keratosis?

Don’t worry, these skin lesions are much less worrisome than they sound. Seborrheic keratosis are also referred to as SKs, and they are non-cancerous lesions that grow on the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis. The good news is that seborrheic keratosis are essentially harmless. The bad news, they rarely go away on their own.

What do seborrheic keratosis look like?

SKs can resemble other skin disorders including warts, actinic keratoses, moles, and melanomas. Seborrheic keratosis usually begins as a rough, itchy bumps and can, over time, thicken and darken to a brown or black color. They tend to take on a rounded, or oval-like, shape and have an elevated, rough surface.

What causes seborrheic keratosis?

There is no known cause of SKs to date, but the lesions become more common with age. In fact, they’re the most common benign skin growths in older individuals. However, some people may develop these lesions during pregnancy, or during estrogen treatments.

Seborrheic keratosis are not believed to be caused by sun exposure. Additionally, these lesions don’t have a higher risk of turning into skin cancer.

Should I have seborrheic keratosis removed?

If seborrheic keratosis are not removed, they will last a lifetime. If one chooses to keep the lesion, they should continue to have them examined regularly by a dermatology provider; especially if any changes in size, shape, or color occur.

Are there treatment options for seborrheic keratosis?

While these lesions cannot be prevented or cured by medications or creams, your dermatology provider may opt to treat your SKs with shave removal, cryosurgery, or electrosurgery. Treatment will be determined based on the size and location of your lesion.