Symptoms

Typically, seborrheic keratoses appear as well-demarcated, round or oval-shaped patches on the skin that may be brown or black in color. They are often somewhat raised and may itch or hurt. In rare cases, they may also be inflamed or bloody.

Localization

Seborrheic keratoses can occur almost anywhere on the skin, but are most commonly found on the face, head, neck and hands. They may also occur in other locations such as the chest, back, or genitals.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis is usually made by clinical examination by a dermatologist. Occasionally, a skin sample may be taken to rule out other skin conditions.

Therapy

Seborrheic keratoses are usually harmless and do not require treatment. However, if there are aesthetic reasons or the keratosis is bothersome, it can be surgically removed. Alternatively, they can be treated with cryotherapy (cold treatment), electrocautery (electrical burning) or laser therapy.

Progression: seborrheic keratoses grow slowly and usually remain unchanged for years. Occasionally, however, they may grow larger or become inflamed.

Prognosis

Seborrheic keratoses are usually harmless and do not require treatment. Most people have a good prognosis and do not require special medical care.

Frequency

Seborrheic keratoses are one of the most common skin lesions in older age, occurring in about one in two adults.

Risk factors

The risk of developing seborrheic keratoses increases with age. Heavy sun exposure or a family predisposition may also increase the risk.

Prevention

There are no specific measures to prevent seborrheic keratoses. However, it is important to protect the skin from excessive sun exposure to reduce the risk of skin lesions.

Pathogenesis

The exact cause of seborrheic keratosis is not known. However, it is believed that overproduction of skin cells contributes to its development.

Classification

Seborrheic keratoses can be divided into different types depending on how they look and where they occur on the skin. The most common types are pigmented and non-pigmented seborrheic keratoses.

Staging

There is no specific staging for seborrheic keratoses, as they are usually considered harmless and do not show progression to malignancy.

Similar diseases

There are several conditions that can present with symptoms similar to seborrheic keratoses. These include melanoma, actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinoma. Therefore, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis to ensure appropriate treatment.

Literature

Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016.

Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018.

James WD, Berger TG, Elston DM. Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin: clinical dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019.