Q:
How to treat seborrheic keratosis?
A:
Seborrheic keratosis refers to a noncancerous skin growth. It is most frequently seen in elderly people.
Usually, a seborrheic keratosis appears brown, black, or light tan mostly on the back or chest. But it can appear on any part of the body as well.
Although seborrheic keratosis may look like cancer, it doesn’t become cancerous and has no relation with sun exposure. Most people develop at least one seborrheic keratosis during their lifetime.
Symptoms
A seborrheic keratosis can be characterized as follows:
- Round or oval shaped
- Flat or slightly elevated with scaly surface
- Itchy
- Rangers in size from very small to more than 1 inch
Treatment
Since seborrheic keratosis is not cancerous, it usually needs no treatment. But, to look better, you can have them removed in the hospital.
Risk factors
You are more likely to grow a seborrheic keratosis when you are over 50. If someone in your family has it, you have a bigger chance of having it too.
You may also want to get doctor’s advice under the following situations:
- Within a short period of time, many growths appear
- The affected area becomes irritated or bleed
- Other noticeable changes in your skin that cause you pain or sore.
Keywords: seborrheic keratosis; treatment; risk factor; noncancerous; symptoms; Q&A
