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Irritated Seborrheic Kerotosis - neck
Irritated Seborrheic Kerotosis - neck

Seborrheic keratosis
Definition:
Benign wart-like growths on the surface of the skin.

Alternative Names:
Benign skin tumors - keratosis; Keratosis - seborrheic; Senile keratosis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin tumor. The origin is unknown. They commonly appear after age 40.

They appear as wart-like growths in a variety of colors. They may appear in large numbers on the surface of the body. They are usually painless and benign, but may become irritated and itch. They may be cosmetically disfiguring and psychologically distressing.
Symptoms:
  • skin growths
    • located on the face, chest, shoulders, back, or other areas
    • yellow, brown, black, or other colors
    • surface is slightly elevated, flat
    • may have a rough or wart-like texture
    • often waxy surface
    • round to oval shape
    • "pasted on" appearance
    • may be single, but are usually multiple growths
Signs and tests:
Diagnosis is based primarily on the appearance of the growths. A skin lesion biopsy may be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment:
The treatment is usually not required unless the growths become irritated or are cosmetically displeasing.

The growths may be surgically removed or removed by cryotherapy (freezing).
Expectations (prognosis):
Seborrheic keratosis is a benign and usually painless condition. Removal of the growth is simple and usually does not result in scars. However, growths on the trunk often leave lighter-colored skin. The growths usually do not recur after removal, but people who are prone to their growth may develop more in the future.
Complications:
  • psychological distress from change in appearance
  • irritation, discomfort of growths
  • misdiagnosis (malignant melanoma may be difficult to differentiate in some cases)
Calling your health care provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if seborrheic keratosis is present and you desire to have the growths removed.

Also call if new symptoms develop, including change in the appearance of the skin growth or development of other lesions.
Review Date: 8/7/2001
Reviewed By: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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