The name Seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik care-uh-TOE-sis) sounds scary, or at least it does after you learn to pronounce it, but it’s really nothing more than a common skin growth.
It may seem worrisome because it can look like a wart, pre-cancerous skin growth, or skin cancer. It usually appears as a brown, black or light tan growth on the face, chest, shoulders, or back. It can be waxy, scaly, and slightly raised in appearance.
Seborrheic keratoses are painless and require no treatment. They are not contagious and they will not develop into skin cancer.
It is more common to get them as we age. This has earned them the nickname “the barnacle of aging”. As such, many people elect to have them removed for cosmetic reasons. It’s a quick 5-minute procedure that can be performed by your dermatologist.
It’s not known exactly what causes seborrheic keratoses to appear but it’s more common in people with a family history of them. Sun exposure may also play a role.
Should you notice suspicious changes in your skin, or you notice what looks like a seborrheic keratosis getting larger rapidly, bleeding, and not healing, this could be a sign that you’re looking at skin cancer and not seborrheic keratosis. It’s vital that you see a dermatologist immediately for further inspection and diagnosis.
If you have one or more seborrheic keratosis on your body that you’d like to have addressed or removed, the dermatology providers at Summit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology can help. Call us today at (910) 794-5355 or use our online form to request an appointment. We now have three area locations to serve you: Wilmington, Supply, and Hampstead, NC!
The name Seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik care-uh-TOE-sis) sounds scary, or at least it does after you learn to pronounce it, but it’s really nothing more than a common skin growth.
It may seem worrisome because it can look like a wart, pre-cancerous skin growth, or skin cancer. It usually appears as a brown, black or light tan growth on the face, chest, shoulders, or back. It can be waxy, scaly, and slightly raised in appearance.
Seborrheic keratoses are painless and require no treatment. They are not contagious and they will not develop into skin cancer.
It is more common to get them as we age. This has earned them the nickname “the barnacle of aging”. As such, many people elect to have them removed for cosmetic reasons. It’s a quick 5-minute procedure that can be performed by your dermatologist.
It’s not known exactly what causes seborrheic keratoses to appear but it’s more common in people with a family history of them. Sun exposure may also play a role.
Should you notice suspicious changes in your skin, or you notice what looks like a seborrheic keratosis getting larger rapidly, bleeding, and not healing, this could be a sign that you’re looking at skin cancer and not seborrheic keratosis. It’s vital that you see a dermatologist immediately for further inspection and diagnosis.
If you have one or more seborrheic keratosis on your body that you’d like to have addressed or removed, the dermatologists at Summit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology can help. Call us today at (910) 794-5355 or use our online form to request an appointment. We now have three area locations to serve you: Wilmington, Supply, and Hampstead, NC!
Do you have Seborrheic Keratosis that you want removed? We've got you covered.
Seborrheic Keratosis removal is an extremely common process that can be done in one quick visit. Request your appointment today to see one of our expert Dermatologists.