Seborrheic keratosis is a benign change in the skin that appears more frequently in people over 50 and corresponds to lesions that appear on the head, neck, chest or back, which look similar to the wart and have a brown or black color.
Seborrheic keratosis has no specific cause, being mainly related to genetic factors, and, therefore, there are no ways to prevent it. In addition, as it is benign, treatment is not usually indicated, only when it causes aesthetic discomfort or is inflamed, and the dermatologist may recommend cryotherapy or cauterization for its removal, for example.
Symptoms of seborrheic keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis can be characterized mainly by the appearance of lesions on the head, neck, chest and back whose main characteristics are:
- Brown to black coloration; Appearance similar to that of a wart; Oval or circular shape with well-defined edges; Varied size, may be small or large, having more than 2.5 cm in diameter; They may be flat or have a higher appearance.
Despite being normally related to genetic factors, seborrheic keratosis appears more frequently in people who have family members with this skin disorder, are frequently exposed to the sun and are over 50 years old. In addition, people with darker skin also have a greater predisposition for the onset of seborrheic keratosis, being seen mainly on the cheeks, receiving the name of papular dermatosis nigra. Understand what the papulosa nigra is and how to identify it.
The diagnosis of seborrheal keratosis is made by the dermatologist based on physical examination and observation of keratoses, and the dermatoscopy exam is mainly performed to be able to differentiate it from melanoma, since in some cases it can be similar. Understand how the dermatoscopy exam is done.
How the treatment is done
As seborrheic keratosis is most often normal and does not pose a risk to the person, it is not necessary to start specific treatment. However, it may be indicated by the dermatologist to perform some procedures to remove seborrheic keratosis when they itch, hurt, are inflamed or cause aesthetic discomfort, and it may be recommended:
- Cryotherapy, which consists of using liquid nitrogen to remove the lesion; Chemical cauterization, in which an acidic substance is applied over the lesion so that it can be removed; Electrotherapy, in which an electric current is applied to remove keratosis.
When symptoms associated with seborrheic keratosis appear, the dermatologist usually recommends performing a biopsy in order to check for any signs of malignant cells and, if so, the most appropriate treatment is recommended.
