Seborrheic keratosis is a common skin growth. It may look worrisome, but it is benign (not cancer). These growths often appear after the age of 30. Some people get just one. It is, however, more common to have many. They are not contagious.
 
Most often seborrheic keratoses start as small, rough bumps. Then slowly they thicken and get a warty surface. They range in color from white to black. Most are tan or brown. Seborrheic keratoses can look like warts, moles, actinic keratoses, and skin cancer. They differ, though, from these other skin growths. Seborrheic keratoses have a waxy, “pasted-on-the-skin” look. Some look like a dab of warm, brown candle wax on the skin. Others may resemble a barnacle sticking to a ship.
 
A type of treatment for seborrheic keratoses is cryosurgery.  During this treatment, the dermatologist applies liquid nitrogen, a very cold liquid, to the growth with a spray gun. This freezes the growth. The seborrheic keratosis tends to fall off within days. Sometimes a blister forms under the seborrheic keratosis and dries into a scab-like crust that will fall off.  Occasionally, more than one treatment is needed. Click here to schedule with one of our providers.