Seborrheic Keratosis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Seborrheic keratosis is a type of epidermal tumor that often occurs in adulthood and old age.
The lesions can grow anywhere on the skin but are more common on the chest, face, shoulders, back, and skin folds. However, seborrheic keratosis rarely appears on the hands, feet, or on the mucous lining, such as the mouth and inside the nose.
The lumps are not contagious, grow slowly, and rarely develop into cancer.
The following is complete information about the causes, symptoms, and how to treat seborrheic keratosis.
Seborrheic Keratosis
| Medical specialist | Dermatologist (skin and genital) specialist |
| Symptoms | It starts as a small lesion and gradually thickens; the lesions may be brown, white or black; painless, the lesions may occasionally itch |
| Risk Factors | Old age, sun exposure, have a lighter skin tone, have a family member with seborrheic keratosis |
| Diagnosis | Medical interview, physical examination, additional examination |
| Treatment | Surgery, cryotherapy, curettage and electrosurgery, laser ablation therapy, topical medications |
| Drug | Tazarotene, alpha-hydroxy acid, urea, analog vitamin D (tacalcitol, calciptriol), gel diklofenak, hydrogen peroksida gel |
| Complications | Pain, itching, growth into skin malignancy |
| When to see a doctor? | Patients who have a large number of lesions that may mimic skin malignancy. |
Symptoms
Here are some of the symptoms of seborrheic keratosis that can be observed:
- It starts as a small lesion and slowly thickens
- It can be brown, white or black in color
- The size of the lump varies from about ½ cm to the size of a small coin
- Common locations for lumps are on the chest, back, stomach, face, neck and scalp
- The lump does not cause pain
- The bumps can sometimes itch
Reason
The cause of seborrheic keratosis is not known with certainty until now.
However, seborrheic keratosis can be caused by the formation of imperfect (immature) keratinocytes resulting in round or oval macular lesions.
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors that are thought to increase a person’s exposure to seborrheic keratosis, namely:
- old age
- Sun exposure
- Have a lighter skin tone
- Having a family member with seborrheic keratosis
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis is established through several stages. The first, a medical interview. The doctor will ask, for example, about the complaints you are experiencing and whether there are conditions that increase the risk.
Second, physical examination. The doctor will check if there are dark, similar, slow-growing, verrucous-like lesions.
On examination using a dermatoscope, a milia cyst will be found, not like comedones, and fissures.
Treatment
Because seborrheic keratosis is generally harmless, patients usually do not require further management.
In certain circumstances, a dermatologist can take several actions as a way to get rid of seborrheic keratoses, such as:
- Surgery
- Cryotherapy
- Curettage and electrosurgery
- Laser ablation therapy
- Topical medications, such as:
- Tazarotene
- Alpha-hydroxy acid
- Urea
- Analog vitamin D (tacalcitol, calcipotriol)
- Diclofenac gel
- Hydrogen peroxide gel
Apart from using medical treatment, self-care can also be applied to seborrheic keratosis, for example:
- Wear loose clothing to prevent friction and irritation
- It is recommended to use soft clothing, such as cotton, to minimize the risk of irritation
- Do not scratch the skin bump area because it can cause injury. These wounds can trigger an infection.
- Wear sunscreen
Prevention
Because the cause is unknown, seborrheic keratosis is difficult to prevent. However, some of these methods can be applied to reduce the risk of seborrheic keratosis, namely:
- Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before going outside
- Avoid lingering in the hot sun
- Consumption of nutritious foods, especially those with high antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables
Complications
Although classified as benign, the lesions in seborrheic keratosis can thicken and cause symptoms of pain and discomfort in patients due to irritation.
The rapid growth of these lesions requires further examination to determine whether there are signs of malignancy on the skin.
When to See a Doctor?
Seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin lesion and generally has a good prognosis.
However, having a large number of lesions can mimic a skin malignancy. If there are these signs, it is necessary to carry out further evaluation and supervision from a doctor.