Seborrheic Keratosis
What is Seborrheic Keratosis ?
A seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a common noncancerous (benign) skin growth. People tend to get more of them as they get older.
Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, black, or light tan. The growths (lesions) look waxy or scaly and slightly raised. They appear gradually, usually on the face, neck, chest, or back. Seborrheic keratoses are harmless and not contagious. They don’t need treatment, but you may decide to have them removed if they become irritated by clothing or you don’t like how they look.
Symptoms
- A round or oval-shaped waxy or rough bump
- A flat growth or a raised bump with a scaly surface
- Varied size, from very small to more than 1 inch
- Varied number
- Very small growths clustered around the eyes
- Varied in color
- Itchiness
- Irritation from friction
- Bleeding
- Usually painless
Cause
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. They also appear more frequently in families, which suggests that genetics may play a role. They are not viral or bacterial. They don’t spread and they aren’t contagious. Seborrheic keratoses usually grow slowly and may develop their texture gradually over time. If many seborrheic keratoses erupt suddenly together, it might raise some concern. This unusual occurrence has sometimes been considered a sign of internal cancer. Doctors call it “the sign of Leser Trélat”. The correlation is not yet proven or explained and may only be a coincidence. But your healthcare provider might want to screen you for any other signs of internal cancer.
Risk Factors
The peak time for developing seborrheic keratoses is after your 50s. You’re also more likely to have them if you have a family history of the condition.
When to see a Doctor
See your doctor if the appearance of the growth bothers you or if it gets irritated or bleeds when your clothing rubs against it. Also, see your doctor if you notice suspicious changes in your skin, such as sores or growths that grow rapidly, bleed, and don’t heal. These could be signs of skin cancer.