Seborrheic Keratosis

It's common to notice lesions, abnormal growths, and discoloration on the skin, especially as you age. Generally, they are not life-threatening, though it is common for you to be concerned about their nature, whether benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Any new or unusual skin growth must be addressed and assessed by your dermatologist (a doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the skin, hair, and nails) for its potential.  

This informative blog will highlight a benign skin growth known as Seborrheic Keratosis. It tends to appear in middle age and may develop more as you get older. These are usually harmless growths that require treatment, typically due to cosmetic concerns. Let us delve into understanding skin growth, from its types, causes, symptoms, and diagnosis to treatment options. 

What is Seborrheic Keratosis?

Seborrheic keratosis is skin growth known as brown warts, senile warts, seborrheic warts, or wisdom warts. Though they usually appear in middle age, you may develop more of these growths as you get older. The term keratosis means a knobby overgrowth of keratinocytes. These are common cells found in your skin's epidermal (superficial) layer. Seborrheic keratosis can be found anywhere on your body but is more common on your scalp, face, chest, shoulders, abdomen, and back.

What Causes Seborrheic Keratosis?

There is no definite research evidence about the exact cause of seborrheic keratosis. These growths usually tend to run in families having an inherited tendency.

However, certain risk factors can increase your susceptibility to develop seborrheic keratosis. These include:

• Age: People 50 and older. About 30% of people have one such growth by age 40 and about 75% by age 70.
• Familial tendency: About half of all the cases of seborrheic keratosis occur in families thus, it may be inherited.
• Lighter-skinned people: The most common variant of seborrheic keratosis appears less commonly in dark-skinned people and more common in light-skinned people.
• Environmental factors: Increased sun exposure can predispose you to develop these skin growths.
• Hormonal imbalance: This can occur frequently in pregnant women or while undergoing estrogen replacement therapy. 

What Are the Symptoms Associated With Seborrheic Keratosis?

A seborrheic keratosis skin growth develops gradually with the following signs and symptoms:

• A round or oval-shaped waxy or rough bump 
• A flat growth or a slightly raised bump with a scaly surface, with a characteristic "pasted on" look.
• Differ in size, can range from very small to more than 1 inch across
• You may develop a single growth or a cluster 
• Small growths clustered around your eyes are known as dermatosis papulosa nigra.
• Color may vary from light tan to dark brown.
• Itching
• Irritation from friction
• Occasional bleeding 

How is Seborrheic Keratosis Diagnosed?

Dermatologists can easily identify seborrheic keratosis with the naked eye. However, when in doubt, your doctor may use a special diagnostic tool called a dermoscopy dermoscopy, a small-handled microscope, to analyze the growth microscopically.

If your doctor suspects malignancy, they may rule out the possibility through a biopsy. Here, a small tissue sample is taken and studied under a microscope in the laboratory.

How do Dermatologists Treat Seborrheic Keratosis?

Most often seborrheic keratoses do not require any treatment since they are harmless and non-contagious. However, if the skin growth causes irritation and discomfort and is unsightly, then your doctor may consider removing it.  

Treatment and removal methods for seborrheic keratosis include the following: 

Cryosurgery

• Also known as cryotherapy, this procedure uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the cells within the skin's growth. 
• The tissue dries and shrinks, falling off in a few days. 

Curettage

• Also known as electrodissection, it is performed under anesthesia to numb the concerned area. 
• Your doctor will target electrocurrent to burn the skin growth. 
• Later, a special surgical instrument known as a curette is used to scrape off the remains of the growth. 
• The risk of scarring is fairly reduced using these methods. 

Shave Excision

• This is the most preferred method when your doctor wants to preserve a sample of tissue for future evaluation. 
• Using a surgical curette, your doctor will numb the area with anesthesia, shave off the growth, and smooth the skin beneath.  

Laser Therapy 

• Special laser light of different wavelengths is used to target the skin growth.
• The light energy gets converted to heat energy to vaporize the abnormal tissues. 
• This is less invasive, with minimal risk of scarring. 

Prescription Hydrogen Peroxide

• This is a recently approved method by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
• This method involves topical application of 40% hydrogen peroxide to treat seborrheic keratosis.
• You may require multiple sessions to treat seborrheic keratosis.

Nitric Acid-Zinc Solution

• A topical solution such as nitric complex, which consists of nitric acid, zinc, organic acids, and copper salts, shrinks seborrheic keratosis in less than six months. 

What is The Difference Between Seborrheic Keratosis and Melanoma?

Seborrheic keratosis may sometimes be confused with melanoma. However, both differ in the following ways: 

Final Thought

Seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin growth that is harmless and not life-threatening. This often occurs as a result of abnormal multiplication, growth, and proliferation of keratinocytes. Though they are not dangerous, you must have them checked by your dermatologist to rule out other

similar skin growths like melanoma. A seborrheic keratosis usually does not require treatment unless it causes irritation or discomfort and is unaesthetically unappealing. There are several treatment options to remove seborrheic keratosis, but your doctor can help you determine the best option by weighing the pros and cons of each treatment approach.