Seborrheic Keratosis Symptoms, Causes and More

By errol

Reviewed: dr. stavarache

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Seborrheic Keratosis.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Sept. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seborrheic-keratosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353878.
• 2. Articles.' Cedars, www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/s/seborrheic-keratosis.html.
• 3. Publishing, Harvard Health. 'Seborrheic Keratoses.' Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/a/to/z/seborrheic-keratoses-a-to-z.
• 4. U;, Wollina. 'Recent Advances in Managing and Understanding Seborrheic Keratosis.' F1000Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31508199/.
• 5. Balasubramaniam, Darshana, and Craig G. Burkhart. 'Hydrogen Peroxide Use for Chemical Destruction in Seborrheic Keratosis: A Review.' The Open Dermatology Journal, opendermatologyjournal.com/VOLUME/13/PAGE/68/FULLTEXT/.
• 6. Study of Seborrheic Keratosis by Dermoscopy Using...'Indian Journal of Dermatopathology and Diagnostic Dermatology, 22 Dec. 2020, www.ijdpdd.com/text.asp?2020/7/2/64/304338.

Medical Expert

More About Us

Seborrheic keratoses, abbreviated as SK, are benign skin growths. They grow from skin cells called keratinocytes in the outer layer of the epidermis.³Publishing, Harvard Health. ‘Seborrheic Keratoses.’ Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/a/to/z/seborrheic-keratoses-a-to-z. Doctors sometimes refer to these growths as basal cell papillomas or seborrheic warts. Seborrheic is slightly misleading because growths are not influenced by sebum and have no relationship with sebaceous glands.

SK growths are very common and appear more often as people age. Most people develop at least one seborrheic keratosis during their lifetime.⁴U;, Wollina. ‘Recent Advances in Managing and Understanding Seborrheic Keratosis.’ F1000Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31508199/. Growths are sometimes mistaken for warts, and they're known by several common names, including senile wart, wisdom wart, or brown wart.

1. Seborrheic Keratosis Symptoms

Seborrheic keratoses are usually round or shaped like an oval. Growths occur in a wide range of colors, including black, white, light or dark brown, tan, yellow, gray, or a combination of two or three colors.¹‘Seborrheic Keratosis.’ Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Sept. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seborrheic-keratosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353878.

Individual seborrheic keratosis growths, sometimes called papules or lesions, can be anywhere from 1-millimeter to 3-inches in diameter. Papules are slightly raised or flat against the skin, and their surfaces are waxy or scaly. The appearance of seborrheic keratoses has been described as melted candle wax or something pasted onto the skin.²Articles.’ Cedars, www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/s/seborrheic-keratosis.html.