FAQ - Keratosis, Seborrheic
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How to remove seborrheic keratosis?


This may sound an odd question.
I have read that seborrheic keratosis can be removed with cryosurgery (freezing the Keratosis) so therefore can it be removed using an over the counter treatment that freezes warts?
I know that most of you will say that this type of procedeure should be done under medical supervision but are Seborrheic warts that different from common warts?
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Yes any cryo will work.  (+ info)

Seborrheic Keratosis - Is there a correlation between this and exposure to ionizing radiation in WWII?


Is there a correlation between skin cancer and exposure to ionizing radiation in WWII? I am talking about exposure to the radiation in Nagasaki approximately 2 - 3 weeks after the bomb was dropped.
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no, that radiation would likely promote skin cancers right away not this far out. this is likely sun damage on fair skin color, watch if it changes, then have it seen right away, good luck  (+ info)

how do i get rid of seborrheic keratosis?


i have many of these type skin "tags" on my face, neck and trunk. For many years I have had them frozen off with liquid nitrogen but I have so many that it would take forever to get them off. They are various sizes ranging from a grain of sand to the size of an pencil eraser. Do you think microdermabrasion woulld help
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  (+ info)

How can I get rid of seborrheic keratosis or skin barnacles?


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Can a person use sea salt and shea butter on seborrheic keratosis?


I see no reason why not. I don't know that it will help, but I'm fairly sure it won't hurt.  (+ info)

Is there an herbal remedy that can get rid of seborrheic keratosis in the head?


I had to have mine surgically removed by a plastic surgeon. No real herbal remedy or medications to get rid of them.  (+ info)

Can a person use sea salt on seborrheic keratosis?


Sure you can, but why would you want to? It's not going to get rid of it ... you'll need to see a dermatologist for that.  (+ info)

is there anything to do help cure severe Seborrheic Keratosis they are all on my neck,face and chest?


i have had liquid nitrogen removal they resurface
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I used retin A. Took about six weeks.  (+ info)

does someone help me with info ref to Seborrheic Keratosis ?


"Seborrheic keratosis is one of the most common types of noncancerous (benign) skin growths in older adults. In fact, most people develop at least one seborrheic keratosis at some point in their lives.

A seborrheic keratosis usually appears as a brown, black or pale growth on the face, chest, shoulders and back. The growth has a waxy, scaly, slightly elevated appearance. Occasionally, it appears singly, but multiple growths are more common. Typically, seborrheic keratoses don't become cancerous, but they can look like skin cancer.

These skin growths are normally painless and require no treatment. You may decide, however, to have them removed if they become irritated by clothing or for cosmetic reasons.

A seborrheic keratosis usually has the appearance of a waxy or wart-like growth. It typically appears on the head, neck or trunk of the body. A seborrheic keratosis:

* Ranges in color from light tan to black
* Is round- to oval-shaped
* Has a characteristic "pasted on" look
* Is flat or slightly elevated with a scaly surface
* Ranges in size from very small to more than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) across
* May itch

You may develop a single growth or cluster of growths. Though not painful, seborrheic keratoses may prove bothersome depending on their size and location. Be careful not to rub, scratch or pick them. This can lead to inflammation, bleeding and infection.

Causes

The exact cause of seborrheic keratoses is unclear. They tend to run in some families, so genetics may play a role. Ultraviolet (UV) light may also play a role in their development since they are common on sun-exposed areas, such as the back, arms, face and neck.

See your doctor if:

* Many growths develop over a short time. Normally, seborrheic keratoses appear one or two at a time over many years.
* The growths get irritated or bleed when your clothing rubs against them. You may want the growths removed.
* You notice suspicious changes in your skin, such as sores or growths that grow rapidly, bleed and don't heal. These could be signs of skin cancer.


Screening and diagnosis

Your doctor can diagnose seborrheic keratosis by inspecting the growth. To confirm the diagnosis or to rule out other skin conditions, your doctor may recommend removal for examination under a microscope.

Typically, seborrheic keratosis doesn't become cancerous, but it can resemble skin cancer. If your doctor suspects skin cancer, he or she will take a small sample of your skin (biopsy) for analysis in a lab. A biopsy can usually be done in a doctor's office using local anesthesia.

Treatment of seborrheic keratoses usually isn't necessary. However, you may want them removed if they become irritated, if they bleed because your clothing rubs against them, or if you simply don't like how they look or feel.

This type of growth is never deeply rooted, so removal is usually simple and not likely to leave scars. Your doctor can remove seborrheic keratoses using several methods, including:

* Freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery). Cryosurgery can be an effective way to remove seborrheic keratosis. However, it may not work on large, thick growths, and it may lighten the treated skin (hypopigmentation).
* Scraping the skin's surface with a special instrument (curettage). Sometimes curettage is used along with cryosurgery to treat thinner or flat growths. It may be used with electrocautery.
* Burning with an electric current (electrocautery). Used alone or with curettage, electrocautery can be effective in removing seborrheic keratosis. This procedure can leave scars if it's not done properly, and it may take longer than other removal methods.

Keep in mind that most insurance companies and Medicare won't pay for the removal of seborrheic keratoses if done only for cosmetic reasons. Medical reasons for seborrheic keratosis treatment include intense itching, pain, inflammation, bleeding and infection."

"Characteristics of Seborrheic Keratosis
The wicked witch with a wart on her nose probably had a Seb K not a wart. So how can you tell if that bump on your face or chest is actually a Seb K? They do have some defining characteristics.

* Stuck on - They are classically described as looking like someone took clay or a blob of dirt and "stuck" it on the skin. The edge of the seborrheic keratosis is not attached to the underlying skin making it appear that it could be removed by picking it off with your fingernail. This is because seborrheic keratoses arise from the epidermis, or top layer of skin. They don't extend deep into the skin like warts. What you see is what you get.
* Warty surface - Seborrheic keratoses may look like warts but they don't contain human papilloma viruses that cause warts. As they develop some can have a very rough surface with deep pits and fissures almost like cauliflower being pulled apart.
* Smooth surface with horn pearls - Some seborrheic keratoses don't have a rough surface. If they are smooth, they contain tiny bumps that look like seeds that are lighter or darker than the surrounding tissue. These are called horn pearls and they are actually bits of keratin that develop in a whirling, circular pattern. Sometimes these horn pearls are best seen with a magnifying glass.
* Itching - For some reason seborrheic keratoses tend to itch especially the older we get. Some people will unintentionally manipulate or "pick at" a seborrheic keratosis and cause it to be further irritated. If irritated enough, the skin around it can become red and the seborrheic keratosis itself can bleed. This can be alarming to savvy skin-watchers who know that a doctor should see any lesion that bleeds.

What can be done about Seborrheic Keratosis?
The first and usually the best choice is to leave them alone. They may get larger, but they are not precancerous so leaving them there for the life of your skin is not a problem. Seborrheic keratoses are usually removed because they itch, they interfere with clothing or jewelry, or they are cosmetically unacceptable. That last option is a judgment call. The warty thing on an 80-year-old man's nose may not be as big of a deal as the one on a 40-year-old woman's nose.

Removing Seborrheic Keratosis
If you decide to have a seborrheic keratosis removed, there are several ways to do this.

* Liquid Nitrogen - A small seborrheic keratosis can be frozen with liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen works by freezing and destroying the cells but leaving the connective tissue foundation intact. The lesion frozen forms a blister as the water is released from the now-dead cells then crusts over as that water dries. When the crust falls off after several days, the skin underneath has begun to repair itself. Liquid nitrogen can leave a scar as the repaired skin may have more or less pigment producing cells. The scar is usually flat though unless you have a tendency to form keloids.
* Shave - Another way seborrheic keratoses can be removed is to shave them off. Because their attachment to the underlying skin covers less area than the lesion itself, shaving can be a viable option. Seborrheic Keratoses are shaved off with a flexible razor blade going just deep enough to get only the seborrheic keratosis cells and leave normal skin. Shaving too much normal skin off can leave a divot in the skin as a scar. After the lesion is shaved, a chemical agent such as aluminum chloride or silver nitrate is applied to the wound to stop any small surface bleeding. Silver nitrate is a dark brown color and the resulting wound after the shave is dark brown. This color will usually go away after the skin repairs but some of that pigment can remain. For this reason, silver nitrate is usually not used on the face.

Unusual-Looking Growths
Sometimes seborrheic keratoses can be very difficult to distinguish from melanoma. Especially when they first appear, they can have several of the characteristics of atypical growths. They can have an irregular border and color variation throughout the lesion. You should not hesitate to see your doctor about any skin rashes or bumps that concern you."  (+ info)

is there a layman's term for seborrheic keratosis?


barnacles  (+ info)

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