About Seborrheic Keratosis Treatment Services
Any new dark growth deserves a professional look, because a seborrheic keratosis and a melanoma can occasionally look similar to an untrained eye.
At Charleston Dermatology, our physicians and providers can usually identify seborrheic keratoses on exam or with dermoscopy. When there’s any doubt about a growth, a biopsy settles the question definitively—that certainty is the real value of an exam.
Treatment is optional since these growths are benign, but removal is quick when a spot is itchy, irritated by clothing or jewelry, or simply bothersome. Options include cryotherapy and gentle scraping. Reassurance starts with a look. Schedule a visit and know for sure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are seborrheic keratoses?
Seborrheic keratoses are benign growths of the outer skin layer that look waxy, warty, or pasted-on. They range from light tan to black, vary from tiny to over an inch, and appear most often on the chest, back, scalp, face, and neck. Most adults develop at least a few by middle age.
What causes seborrheic keratoses?
Age and genetics are the main factors—they tend to run in families and multiply over the years. They are not caused by a virus, are not contagious, and do not turn into skin cancer. A sudden eruption of many new ones, however, is worth an evaluation.
Do seborrheic keratoses need to be removed?
No—they’re harmless and can simply be left alone. Removal makes sense when a growth itches, catches on clothing, bleeds from irritation, or bothers you cosmetically. In-office options like cryotherapy or curettage take minutes. And if any growth looks unusual, we’ll biopsy it to be certain of the diagnosis.