Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for seborrheic keratosis

by Hilda Erdman Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Freezing a growth with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) can be an effective way to remove a seborrheic keratosis. It doesn't always work on raised, thicker growths. This method carries the risk of permanent loss of pigment, especially on Black or brown skin. Scraping (curettage) or shaving the skin's surface.Jan 18, 2022

Procedures

Hydrogen peroxide, of 25 percent concentration, can be used as a DIY remedy for seborrheic keratosis, and this is how: Apply the hydrogen peroxide on the affected skin using a cotton piece of cloth. The seborrheic keratosis will form a scab and turn pink after the application of hydrogen peroxide.

Self-care

Treatment of a seborrheic keratosis isn't usually needed. Be careful not to rub, scratch or pick at it. This can lead to itching, pain and bleeding. You can have a seborrheic keratosis removed if it becomes irritated or bleeds, or if you don't like how it looks or feels.

Is thee anything I can do for seborrheic keratosis?

The three main methods of removal are:

  • Curettage —After the skin is numbed, the growths are sliced or scraped off using an instrument called a curette.
  • Cryosurgery or freezing —Liquid nitrogen is applied to the growths. The seborrheic keratoses crust over and then fall off a few weeks later.
  • Electrosurgery —An electric current burns the growths off.

Can you scratch or pick off a seborrheic keratosis?

Using natural home remedies to cure and remove seborrheic keratosis permanently is recommended and most welcomed by many since it is cost effective and easy for anyone. For the medical treatment the cost varies depending on the type of treatment employed.

How are seborrheic keratoses treated?

Can a seborrheic keratosis be permanently removed?

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Is there an over the counter treatment for seborrheic keratosis?

The FDA has approved hydrogen peroxide 40% topical solution (Eskata – Aclaris Therapeutics) for treatment of raised seborrheic keratoses (SKs) in adults. It is the first drug to be approved for this indication. (Hydrogen peroxide is available over the counter for topical use as a 3% solution.)

Is there a cream for seborrheic keratosis?

Topical treatment with tazarotene cream 0.1% applied twice daily for 16 weeks caused clinical improvement in seborrheic keratoses in 7 of 15 patients. In 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a concentrated hydrogen peroxide 40% solution (Eskata) for adults with raised seborrheic keratosis.

What triggers seborrheic keratosis?

It's not clear what exactly causes seborrheic keratoses. They tend to run in families, so genes may be a cause. Normal skin aging plays a role because the growths are more common with age. Too much sun exposure may also play a role.

What is the best home treatment for seborrheic keratosis?

The dermatologist usually recommends a solution of approximately 40% Hydrogen Peroxide. This is a topical application that helps in removing Seborrheic Keratosis and resultant lesions. However, be wary of the irritation that it causes.

Can you remove seborrheic keratosis at home?

A seborrheic keratosis typically doesn't go away on its own, but treatment isn't needed. You might choose to have it removed if it becomes irritated or bleeds, or if you don't like how it looks or feels.

Is there a natural way to get rid of seborrheic keratosis?

There are no proven home remedies for seborrheic keratosis. Lemon juice or vinegar may cause irritation, possibly causing the lesion to dry and crumble, but there is no evidence that this is safe or effective.

How does hydrogen peroxide treat seborrheic keratosis?

The FDA has recently approved a topical solution of 40% hydrogen peroxide to treat seborrheic keratosis. (Over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide is a 1% solution.) The solution comes in an applicator pen, which your healthcare provider will apply to your seborrheic keratosis several times in one visit.

What happens if you pick off a seborrheic keratosis?

Most seborrheic keratoses do not cause any symptoms and do not require treatment, however, many people are bothered by their cosmetic appearance and want them removed. The growths should not be scratched off. This does not remove the growths and can lead to bleeding and possible secondary infection.

Does seborrheic keratosis spread?

Causes of seborrheic keratosis The growths are not contagious and do not spread from contact with others. Some people notice that the growths tend to spread on their skin over time. The primary risk factor for seborrheic keratoses is age.

What essential oil gets rid of seborrheic keratosis?

If patients apply a mixture of frankincense essential oil in a castor carrier oil to seborrheic keratosis for the duration of one month, then the coloration and appearance of seborrheic keratosis will decrease.

Can a seborrheic keratosis fall off?

Unlike moles, seborrheic keratoses grow on the surface of the skin, and because of this they are often loosely attached and at times can fall off, especially if traumatized.

How long does it take for seborrheic keratosis to heal?

Seborrhoeic keratosis removal is usually quite a straight forward procedure. The wound that results is very superficial and will take about 7 days to heal if it is on face and about 14 days to heal if it is on the body.

Overview

A seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a common benign skin growth, similar to a mole. Most people will have at least one in their lifetime. They tend to appear in mid-adulthood and their frequency increases with age. They are harmless and don’t require treatment, but you can have them removed if they bother you.

Symptoms and Causes

We don't know exactly why these growths occur, but we can look at the circumstances that often go along with it. The first is age: seborrheic keratoses are especially common in adults over 50, and they tend to multiply as people get older. Some studies suggest that sun exposure may increase their occurrence.

Diagnosis and Tests

Seborrheic keratosis and actinic keratosis can resemble each other. They both begin to appear after the age of 40, and they both can appear crusty and scaly. It’s important to know the difference because actinic keratosis is more serious than seborrheic keratosis.

Management and Treatment

You should always have new skin growths clinically diagnosed to make sure they aren’t cancerous. Different kinds of skin growths can be hard to tell apart from each other. If your healthcare provider is in any doubt about your growth, they might want to remove it for biopsy.

Living With

For the most part, you don’t have to worry about your seborrheic keratosis. However, you should see your healthcare provider if you notice:

What is skin biopsy?

This is called a skin biopsy. The biopsy will be examined under a microscope by a trained pathologist. This can help your doctor diagnose the growth as either seborrheic keratosis or cancer (such as malignant melanoma).

Does sun exposure cause seborrheic keratosis?

Frequent sun exposure. There is some evidence that skin exposed to the sun is more likely to develop a seborrheic keratosis. However, growths also appear on skin that is usually covered up when people go outdoors.

Is seborrheic keratosis dangerous?

A seborrheic keratosis isn’t dangerous, but you shouldn’t ignore growths on your skin. It can be difficult to distinguish between harmless and dangerous growths. Something that looks like seborrheic keratosis could actually be melanoma. Have a healthcare provider check your skin if: there’s a new growth. there’s a change in appearance of an ...

Does seborrheic keratosis return after removal?

The difference in skin color often becomes less noticeable over time. Most of the time a seborrheic keratosis won’t return, but it’s possible to develop a new one on another part of your body. Last medically reviewed on December 19, 2017.

How long does it take for seborrheic keratosis to fall off?

This destroys the growth. The seborrheic keratosis tends to fall off within days. Sometimes a blister forms under the seborrheic keratosis and dries into a scab-like crust. The crust will fall off.

Does seborrheic keratosis return after removal?

This usually fades with time. Sometimes it is permanent. Most removed seborrheic keratoses do not return. But a new one may occur elsewhere.

Can a dermatologist remove seborrheic keratosis?

A dermatologist may remove a seborrheic keratosis when it: Looks like a skin cancer. Gets caught on clothing or jewelry. Becomes irritated easily. Seems unsightly to a patient. If the growth looks like skin cancer, your dermatologist will likely shave off the growth with a blade or scrape it off.

On call

Q. Years ago, my doctor told me a skin growth on my back was a seborrheic keratosis. Now I have more, and they seem to be multiplying over time. Is there any way to prevent them?

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Disclaimer

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

What are the signs of seborrheic keratosis?

The most visible sign of seborrheic keratosis is the appearance of unsightly black blemishes and bumps on the skin due to the abnormal buildup of keratin. Read on to find out more about the dermatological condition and check out the list of proven treatment for seborrheic keratosis. Seborrheic keratosis is a skin disease ...

Why is seborrheic keratosis not a cause of keratosis

However, scientists have speculated that it could be due to overexposure of the skin to the UV rays of the sun triggers the accumulation of keratin and causes seborrheic keratosis.

How to get rid of senile warts on a senile wart?

Mix four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with four tablespoons of water to prepare a solution. Dip a cotton ball in the solution. Stick the soaked cotton balls to senile warts with the help of duct tapes or band-aids. Rip the duct tapes off with a sharp tug. Do this daily.

What is the condition that causes bumps and blemishes on the face?

Seborrheic keratosis is a skin disease that is characterized by the abnormal rate of accumulation of skin cells that results in the excessive production of keratin that blocks the skin pores and hair follicles and induces the development of bumps, blemishes, and pimples on the skin.

What is actinic keratosis?

The main symptom of actinic keratosis is the rough and blistering patches that develop on the skin along with severe burning and itching sensations . Seborrheic keratosis marks the appearance of black bumps on the skin surface but is relatively painless.

How does salty water help with seborrheic keratin?

Rubbing the affected parts of the skin with the salty water aid s in the shedding of the skin by sloughing off the dead skin cells. The hot water helps in the unclogging of skin pores and aids in the removal of the accumulated keratin thereby treating seborrheic keratosis.

How to get rid of black spots on face?

Crush a couple of fresh cloves of garlic. Apply the minced garlic to the black waxy patches and warts on the face and other parts of the body. Stick a piece of duct tape to attach the crushed garlic cloves to the skin. Rip the duct tapes off the surface after about 2-3 hours. Rinse the area of the skin.

What Is Seborrheic Keratosis?

Seborrheic keratosis is one of the most common noncancerous skin growths found in older adults. It most commonly appears as a brown, black or light tan growth on the face, chest, shoulders or back. Although they are not cancerous, they can look like skin cancer.

Who Is at Risk for Secorrheic Keratosis?

People over the age of 50 are most likely to develop seborrheic keratosis, although its exact cause is not yet known. People with a family history of this condition also are more likely to develop it.

Seborrheic Keratosis Symptoms

Seborrhoeic keratoses have a dark, scaly appearance on the skin. ( Source)

Seborrheic Keratosis Treatments

Treating seborrheic keratosis is not necessary unless the growths become irritated, begin to bleed or if they are in a place that makes you self-conscious about your appearance. The doctors at U.S. Dermatology Partners have several treatment options, including:

Seborrheic Keratosis Prevention

At this time, there is no sure prevention or cure for it, but with help from a dermatologist, you can reduce the symptoms — and the effect this condition has on your life.

What does seborrhoeic keratosis look like?

It can affect both sexes and there are times that it can come up on younger individuals. The skin condition generally looks like warts in appearance. It appears in the form of rough spots on the skin. The spot usually have a brownish color and it can also have wax spread over it. Whenever you see any of the signs mentioned above, you should know without doubt that what you are looking at is seborrhoeic keratosis . There are several methods by which the skin condition can be treated. You can also get the thing treated right at home without paying a visit to the hospital. Some of them will be made known to you through this write up.

How to get rid of skin condition?

It is possible to get rid of the skin condition using topical creams. There are some specially made topical creams that are specifically made for this particular skin condition. You can easily come by the topical creams over the counter. You can also buy them cheaply. You need to gently wash the surface of the skin condition before you attempt ...

Do you need to wash your skin before applying topical creams?

You need to gently wash the surface of the skin condition before you attempt to apply the topical creams. You may need to carry out the application for some days before you can expect any positive result. The topical creams will help to flatten out the skin condition and give you your smooth skin back.

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