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Seborrheic Keratosis - Info on Seborrheic Keratosis Symptom, Causes & Treatment
Seborrheic Keratosis is a skin condition that is fairly common in people over the age of forty-five. The condition is not contagious, but can be very embarrassing for those that it affect. Here, you will learn all that there is to know about Seborrheic Keratosis, including general information about the skin condition and causes, symptoms and treatment options.
What is Seborrheic Keratosis?
Seborrheic Keratosis is a condition in which non-cancerous growths appear on the skin. They are very similar in appearance to warts, including both the type that are raised and the type that are flat. Generally, the tumors also tend to be discolored and can be a variety of different colors, ranging from a dark peach to even a fairly dark shade of black, depending on the specific person and their condition. Although many people do not recognize the name of this skin condition, it is actually one of the most non-cancerous skin conditions that affect older people.
What Causes Seborrheic Keratosis?
Unfortunately, the causes of Seborrheic Keratosis cannot yet be fully determined. However, medical research has shown that the skin condition is related to genetics. Sun is also believed to be a cause of Seborrheic Keratosis. In order to prevent the sun from causing this skin condition to affect you, it is important to make sure that you use a good sun block on a day to day basis. Although it is possible for people with dark skin to become affected by Seborrheic Keratosis, it is much more common among white individuals. Also, while it tends to be more common among older people, it is also possible for Seborrheic Keratosis to affect young people.
What are the Symptoms of Seborrheic Keratosis?
The main symptom of Seborrheic Keratosis is the appearance of a skin growth, which generally looks a lot like a wart. The area may be raised or flat and it may also be oval or round in shape. The color of the growths can vary anywhere from peach to black, but the most common colors tend to be a lighter shade of brown, red or a shade of pink. Usually, the growth tends to feel scaly. Aside from its unusual appearance and texture, the growth of skin may be mildly to moderately itchy.
How is Seborrheic Keratosis Treated?
If you have been diagnosed with Seborrheic Keratosis, treatment options are probably one of your top concerns. The good news is that there are a few different treatment options available to choose from. They include removing the skin growths through the following methods: "cryosurgery," which is freezing with nitrogen; "curettage," which is scraping the skin and "electrocautery," which is burning the skin through a current of electricity. Unfortunately, health insurance will not cover the cost of treatment for Seborrheic Keratosis skin growths unless you have a medical reason for doing so (such as itching) and even then, it may be difficult to have them cover it.
If, for some reason, you think that you may have Seborrheic Keratosis, it is important to visit a dermatologist to have the area of skin tested. There is a possibility that your skin condition may be something more serious and, if this is the case, you will want to keep in mind that early detection plays a huge role in regards to treatment.
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