All About Seborrheic Keratoses Treatment and Diagnosis

Seborrheic keratoses are benign growths just like moles and are called epidermal tumors [1]. Usually, they appear around mid-adulthood, and their number increases with age. Seborrheic keratose treatment is not compulsory or required, but many people still opt for it. Read on to understand more about seborrheic keratoses and seborrheic keratoses treatment options.

Who can get Seborrheic keratoses on their body? 

Anyone can get seborrheic keratoses on their body, but they are most common in  

• Lighter-skinned people – The classic seborrheic keratoses appear less frequently in darker-skinned people. However, there is a variant of this condition known as dermatosis papulosa nigra, which is common in dark-skinned people. 
• People aged 50 and above – These growths generally become visible around middle age and are rare among younger people.  
• People with a family history of this condition – Seborrheic keratoses can occur to everyone in a family, which suggests that the tendency to develop them may be inherited.

Seborrheic Keratoses Symptoms 

There are usually no symptoms of seborrheic keratoses. However, at times, it can lead to 

• Irritation from friction 
• Itching  
• Bleeding  

If these symptoms of seborrheic keratoses persist and irritate you, you can have them removed under the expert guidance of a dermatologist.

Additional Read: Ingrown Hair Treatment and Diagnosis

Seborrheic Keratoses Treatment 

You can opt for one of the following seborrheic keratoses treatment procedures to remove these spots permanently from your body.

Shave excision 

Doctors consider this the best seborrheic keratoses treatment method if they want to preserve a sample of your growth to analyze in a lab. During this process, doctors numb your skin and then gently shave off the growth. After that, they smooth the skin underneath it with a surgical curette. This shaved growth is then sent to the lab for analysis.

Curettage or Electrodesiccation 

Doctors will numb your skin and use a targeted electron current to burn off your growth in this method. Then they may use a surgical curette to scrape away the remaining growth. Both curettage and electrodesiccation can be used together. The risk of scarring is usually less when both methods are used, but you have to take care of the wounds afterward.

Cryotherapy 

In this method, doctors will numb your skin and then use liquid nitrogen to freeze the growth of seborrheic keratoses. This process causes it to fall off within days or two weeks. Cryotherapy is common when your diagnosis is clear, and there is no requirement to preserve the sample. A side-effect of this process is that the area from where the growth was removed will lose some of its pigment and look a little lighter.

Application of hydrogen peroxide solution  

Hydrogen peroxide has become an essential component in seborrheic keratoses treatment. This constituent comes in an applicator pen, which your doctor applies to your growth several different times in one visit. Visiting your doctor a few times can make this process work. Mild skin reaction is one of the most common side-effects of this solution.

Laser therapy  

Lasers give you an alternative to surgery by burning the growth. Once this is done, doctors will sterilize the wound and seal the tissues. Laser therapy is quick, but it can cause the wound to become sore afterward.  

Additional Read: Know Melasma Treatment

Seborrheic keratose treatment is not compulsory, but you can opt for it. In case you get inflamed seborrheic keratosis, consult your doctor immediately. You can also book a consultation online with top dermatologists on Bajaj Finserv Health. From them, you can get guidance not only for your seborrheic keratoses treatment but also for razor bumps treatment and staph infection treatment. Just visit the website of Bajaj Finserv Health, search for a skin specialist near me, and get answers to all your questions today.