Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin growth that looks like a mole. In most people’s lives, they will have at least one. They usually occur in mid-adulthood and become more common as you become older. Seborrheic keratosis treatments are generally not required as they are not harmful, but if they bother you, you can get them removed. Epidermal tumours are another name for skin growths like seborrheic keratoses. However, this does not imply that they are cancerous. Moles and warts are epidermal malignancies in the strictest sense. That simply implies that they are clusters of extra cells on the epidermis, the skin’s outer layer. They aren’t thought to be a cause of skin cancer.

Seborrheic keratosis Causes:

We don’t know why these growths arise, but we may examine the situations that frequently accompany them. 

1. The first is age: seborrheic keratoses are more common in those over 50, and they tend to increase with age. 
2. According to certain research, exposure to light may make them more common. They’re also more common in families, suggesting that genetics may play a role. They aren’t bacterial or viral. They are not contagious and do not spread. 
3. Seborrheic keratosis is a slow-growing lesion that can change texture over time. It’s understandable to be concerned if a large number of seborrheic keratoses appear all at once. This rare event has been misinterpreted as a symptom of internal malignancy in the past. It’s known as “the sign of Leser Trélat” by doctors. 
4. The link has yet to be established or explained, and it could simply be a coincidence. However, your doctor may want to check for any additional indicators of cancer inside your body.
5. They normally appear in adults in their forties and fifties, with a few exceptions. By the age of 40, about 30% of people have at least one, and by the age of 70, about 75% have at least one.
6. Approximately half of all occurrences of numerous seborrheic keratoses causes occur in families, implying that the proclivity to acquire a large number of lesions is inherited.
7. Darker-skinned persons are less likely to develop classic seborrheic keratosis, as detailed here. However, darker-skinned persons, such as those of African, Asian, and Hispanic origin, are more likely to develop dermatosis papulosa nigra, a type of seborrheic keratosis.

Seborrheic keratosis treatment:

New skin growths should always be scientifically diagnosed to ensure they aren’t malignant. Different types of skin growths might be difficult to distinguish from one another. If your doctor has any doubts about your growth, he or she may wish to remove it for a biopsy. If it’s evident that it’s seborrheic keratosis, there’s no need to treat it. However, if it becomes irritating or irritated, or if you don’t like the way it looks, you may wish to have it removed. One of several popular ways can be used by your healthcare professional to remove it in the office.

Medicated Shampoos, Creams, and Lotions:

The most common seborrheic keratosis treatments include medicated shampoos, creams, and lotions. Before considering prescription medications, your doctor will likely advise you to try home remedies such as over-the-counter dandruff shampoos. If home cures don’t work, discuss these therapies with your doctor.

Cryotherapy:

Your healthcare professional will numb the skin before freezing the growth with liquid nitrogen. It will fall off in a few days or weeks as a result of this. When the diagnosis is apparent, and there is no need to preserve a sample of the growth for biopsy, cryotherapy is a popular option. One possible negative effect is that the skin where the growth occurred may lose some colour and seem lighter.

Electrodesiccation:

Your healthcare practitioner will numb the skin before burning the seborrheic keratosis with a focused electron current. They scrape the remaining growth away with a surgical instrument called a curette. Individually, electrodesiccation and curettage are sometimes utilized. Both techniques have a low risk of scarring. However, there is some wound care required following.

Shave Excision:

When your healthcare professional needs to save a sample of the growth for testing in the lab, this is the procedure to use. Your healthcare professional will use a surgical curette to delicately shave off the growth and smooth the skin beneath it after numbing the area. The removed growth will then be sent to a lab for testing.

Laser Therapy:

By simultaneously burning the growth, sterilizing the incision, and sealing the tissue, lasers provide an alternative to surgery. Although laser therapy is rapid, the wound will remain uncomfortable for a while. Lasers are linked to improved cosmetic outcomes.

Prescription Hydrogen Peroxide:

A topical solution of 40% hydrogen peroxide was recently approved by the FDA as a preferred Seborrheic keratosis treatment. (Hydrogen peroxide sold over the counter is a 1 per cent solution.) Your healthcare professional will use an applicator pen to apply the solution to your seborrheic keratosis numerous times in one visit. You may need more than one visit to see the effects. A common adverse effect is mild skin responses.

Antifungal Medication as Pill:

If alternative therapies fail to improve your illness, your doctor may prescribe a pill-based antifungal drug. Because of the potential for side effects and drug interactions, they aren’t recommended as the first line of treatment.

Conclusion

One of the most prevalent noncancerous skin growths in elderly persons is seborrheic keratosis. A brown, black, or light tan growth on the face, chest, shoulders, or back is the most prevalent symptom. They may resemble skin cancer even though they are not malignant. Seborrheic keratosis can arise as a single growth or as a tiny cluster of growths. It will be scaly and itch, and it will be flat or slightly raised. It is round or oval and can range in hue from light tan to dark or even black. It is not necessary to take Seborrheic keratosis treatment unless the growths become itchy, bleed, or are in a location that makes you self-conscious about your looks.