Seborrheic keratosis & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is seborrheic keratosis?

Seborrheic keratosis is a non-cancerous skin growth that usually appears in the elderly. Usually, the skin tissue that grows is brown to black in color.

The face, chest, shoulders, and back are among the parts of the body most often overgrown with this abnormal tissue. However, although they can appear on any part of the body, this tissue generally does not appear on the palms of the hands or feet.

This condition will not develop into cancer or other dangerous skin diseases. In addition, this skin condition also does not cause pain, especially to the point of requiring treatment.

Seborrheic keratosis is not contagious so there is no need to fear being close to people who have it.

How common is seborrheic keratosis?

Reporting from data from the British Association of Dermatologists, about 30% of people have this skin problem when they are 40 years old. Then the percentage rises to 75% in people aged 70 years.

This condition can affect anyone of various races and genders. However, it is most common in the elderly.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of seborrheic keratosis?

The signs of seborrheic keratosis need to be recognized carefully. The reason is, at first glance this condition is similar to melanoma skin cancer. In order not to be mistaken, here are the various signs and symptoms:

• The appearance of small, rough bumps that slowly thicken to form a wart-like shape
• Looks like wax stuck to the skin
• Most of the growing skin is brown but can also be yellow, black, or white
• They range in size from very small to more than 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• The skin that grows does not feel sore or itchy
• It usually appears on the chest, back, stomach, scalp, face, neck and other parts of the body except the palms of the hands and feet
• Generally round or oval in shape

The growing skin is not painful but sometimes it can be quite disturbing depending on its appearance. Try not to scratch it, as this can cause bleeding, swelling, and infection.

Some of the other symptoms or signs may not be listed above. If you feel anxious about these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

When to go to the doctor

Although not dangerous, you need to go to the doctor immediately if:

• There is a lot of skin growing in a short time
• The skin that grows becomes irritated or bleeds when it rubs against clothes
• Notice a suspicious growth on the skin
• The border around the skin that grows irregular or is blurred
• The appearance of a wound in the area of ​​the skin that grows and doesn't heal
• Growing skin or warts have an unusual color such as purple, reddish black, or blue

Immediately consult a doctor if the symptoms that appear worrying. The doctor will diagnose your condition and provide the most appropriate treatment according to the condition.

Cause

What causes seborrheic keratosis?

Quoted from the pages of the American Academy of Dermatology, the cause of seborrheic keratosis is not certain. However, there are several factors that are strongly suspected to be the cause of this skin problem:

Family history

Some people who are affected by this skin problem usually have family members with the same condition. Therefore, researchers suspect that this condition arises because it is genetically inherited.

Sunlight

Although there are no definite conclusions, sunlight is thought to cause this skin problem. There is a study showing that these growths usually appear on skin that is exposed to lots of sun.

However, the fact is that there are also parts of the skin that are always covered and not exposed to UV rays but experience seborrheic keratosis.

Age

Seborrheic keratosis is a skin problem that is very rarely experienced by children or young adults. Usually, skin growth will appear after a person is over 40 to 50 years old. This blemish-looking skin will also continue to build up with age.

Risk factors

What are the factors that increase the risk of seborrheic keratosis?

Here are various factors that increase a person's risk of developing this skin problem, namely:

• White people with family members who also have the condition
• It can also appear in people with medium to dark skin. In dark skinned people, usually the skin tissue that grows tends to be small and attacks the area around the eyes
• Are pregnant or after estrogen replacement therapy
• Are over 50 years of age

Not having one of these risk factors does not mean you are completely free from this one skin problem. Consult a doctor if there are other things you want to ask about the appearance of seborrheic keratosis.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What tests are done to diagnose seborrheic keratosis?

Usually the doctor will diagnose this condition by looking at its physical appearance. In addition, the doctor will also check the growth from time to time.

If necessary, the doctor will also recommend removing the affected skin tissue. The goal is to be examined under a microscope for further diagnosis.

The reason is, this condition is quite similar to melanoma skin cancer at first glance. Viewing tissue samples under a microscope is the only way to determine whether this condition includes skin cancer or not.

What are the treatment options for seborrheic keratosis?

Seborrheic keratosis is not a dangerous disease. Therefore, the condition usually doesn't need to be treated. However, doctors usually recommend a variety of treatment steps to remove excess skin if:

• Looks like skin cancer
• Easy irritation
• Always hurt when rubbing against clothes
• Interfere with appearance and make people who have it insecure

The following are various skin lesions removal procedures to help treat seborrheic keratosis:

Cryosurgery

Cyrosurgery is a surgical procedure that uses very cold fluids to destroy abnormal tissue in the skin. This procedure usually uses liquid nitrogen as the main ingredient.

The liquid nitrogen used has a temperature between -174.4 to -360 ° C. Previously, the doctor would give an anesthetic to numb the skin.

When this nitrogen is applied to the seborrheic keratosis area using a cotton swab or spray, the skin tissue is destroyed immediately. Usually the skin that grows as a result of this condition will fall off or come off by itself within a few days.

This procedure causes blisters under the skin and will dry out over time. The crust that dries up over time will form like a scab until it finally detaches itself from the skin.

Electrosurgery

Electrosurgery (electrocautery) is a procedure that uses an electric current to destroy excess skin tissue growth.

So that the patient does not experience pain during the procedure, the doctor will first give an anesthetic to the skin area where the procedure will be performed.

In addition, the doctor will also clean the skin at the surgery site and coat it with gel to prevent burns. This electric current will not enter the body directly during operation.

The doctor will use a special tool which ends up being heated and comes into contact with the excess tissue in the skin. The heat from this electric current helps remove excess skin tissue in seborrheic keratoses.

Curettage

This procedure is done by scraping the surface of the skin using a special tool. Sometimes curettage is used in conjunction with cryosurgery to treat abnormal growths of thinner skin. In addition, this procedure can also be used in conjunction with electrosurgery.

The doctor will only scrape the abnormal skin tissue that grows. Therefore, no stitches are required afterward. Post-procedure, generally the skin will experience a little bleeding which is nothing to worry about.

Ablation

Ablation involves removing layers of tissue to treat discoloration, improve texture, and remove lesions, warts, or tumors.

There are several techniques commonly used for skin ablation, namely:

• Laser ablation, to treat superficial lesions or discoloration of the skin
• Chemoablation, use topical acids to make skin peel or remove warts
• Cyroablation, freeze the skin using a cold gas such as liquid nitrogen or argon

As with any procedure, the doctor will numb the skin by giving it a local anesthetic or anesthetic. In addition, if needed, the doctor will also provide sedatives to help you relax.

The procedure usually takes 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the technique used and the area of ​​skin being treated.

After the removal procedure, this area of ​​skin is usually lighter in color than the rest of the skin around it. But over time, the skin tone will return to evenness over time.

Most of the seborrheic keratosis that is removed will not return at a later date. However, it does not rule out that new skin tissue will grow in other areas of the body.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat seborrheic keratosis?

There are no home or natural remedies that have been shown to get rid of seborrheic keratitis. However, there are some lifestyle changes and home remedies that can be done to treat seborrheic keratosis, namely:

Wear loose clothes

Seborrheic keratosis makes the surface of the affected skin more prominent than the surrounding area. Therefore, you should wear clothes that are not tight if the area of ​​the skin is affected a lot, for example on the back or chest. It is also important to use soft clothes such as cotton.

The goal is that this skin area does not rub against clothes, which can increase the risk of skin irritation. If it's already irritated, a previously harmless condition can trigger a problem.

Do not scratch the affected skin area

Scratching the area of ​​skin affected by seborrheic keratosis can cause injury. These sores can lead to infection if bacteria or viruses get into them.

Therefore, don't scratch this area. Also, avoid holding it excessively as it can make you unconsciously pick it up.

Use sunscreen

Sunscreen is one of the important skin care products and should not be missed. Sunscreen or sunscreen helps prevent direct sunlight from entering and damaging the skin.

Apart from sunscreen, you can also give your skin extra protection by wearing closed clothes. Also use a hat and sunglasses if you are doing outdoor activities all day.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor to better understand the best solution for you.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.