Seborrheic Keratoses, oftentimes, are confused with warts or moles, but in reality, they are somewhat different. Seborrheic keratoses are nothing but some abnormal growth (however, non-cancerous) that appear onto the outer dermal layer. There might be just one growth or many those occur in clusters.
They are generally brown, but can differ in color from light tan to black and measure in size from a fraction of an inch in diameter to bigger than a coin of 50 cents! The main feature of Seborrheic Keratoses is their typical appearance. They are waxy and look like something is pasted-onto or stuck-onto the skin. They sometimes appear like a dab of warm brown candle wax, which is dropped onto the skin or look-alike barnacles stuck onto the skin.
Signs and Symptoms
One or more spots may occur anywhere on the body, except palm, sole, and mucous membrane (as in the mouth or rectum). They don’t go away and don’t end up in cancerous growth, but some cancers match seborrheic keratosis.
They begin as light brownish to skin-colored, flat areas, those are round to oval and of varying measurement (usually lesser than a ½ inch, but sometimes much larger). As they grow more hardened and elevate above the skin surface, seborrheic keratoses might become dark brownish to almost black with a stuck onto the skin look. The surface might feel smooth or harsh.
Race
Seborrheic keratoses are less common in people with dark skin as compared to those who have fair complexion; nevertheless, black individuals develop a random variable of seborrheic keratoses known as Dermatosis papulosa nigra. Such lesions affect the face, particularly the upper cheeks and lateral orbital area. They are small, denticulate, and highly pigmented with a minimum keratotic element. The onset of such lesions usually is earlier as compared to that of general Seborrheic keratoses.
The gender and age
No difference in gender is apparent in the frequency of occurrence of seborrheic keratoses. However, the condition of such diseases as most common benign tumor is found much in older individuals. They come out with increased intensity with age. They have also been found to affect in younger fellows.
Complications
• Seborrheic keratoses are very troublesome and bothering. Lesions may itch and rub or catch on apparels, thereby becoming swollen.
• Lesions, oftentimes, are unattractive and have negative psychological impacts since they daily remind of aging!
• Patients many times concerned that such enlarging lesions are malignant.
Sometimes a patient who has many seborrheic keratoses might not notice a dysplastic nevus or a malignant melanoma, which would develop among the seborrheic keratoses.
A significant hazard can arise if a person fails detecting some malignant melanoma at the beginning stage.
Medical Care
Ammonium lactate and alpha hydroxy acids have been discovered for reducing the heights of seborrheic keratoses. Superficial lesions may be treated applying pure trichloroacetic acid carefully and repeating if the full thickness is not disappeared on the first treatment.
Surgical Care
A number of techniques might be employed for treating Seborrheic keratoses. They include cryotherapy using carbon dioxide (dry ice) or liquid nitrogen and some other therapies such as electrodessication, electrodessication and curettage or curettage alone. Many health experts also favor doing shave biopsy or excision using some scalpels, or some laser or dermabrasion surgeries. Some of these methods destroy the lesion without providing any specimen to do any histo-pathological diagnose.
• The shave biopsy offers histologic material to diagnosis accurately and removes the lesion in a cosmetic acceptable fashion at the same time. After a shave biopsy is gotten, a curette might be employed for smoothen and remove any remaining keratotic materials.
• If a biopsy is not hoped, light electrodessication helps a sharp curettage.
• Freezing seborrheic keratoses with the help of dry ice or liquid nitrogen keeps the need for surgical excisions; however, complications of freezing might show pigmentary changes and sometimes even scarring.
• Curettage in association with liquid nitrogen usually gives better results as compared to liquid nitrogen alone.
• Application of 70 per cent glycolic acid for a couple of minutes prior to curetting is also favorable.
