BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSeborrheic keratosisBenign skin tumors - keratosis; Keratosis - seborrheic; Senile keratosis; Senile verrucaSeborrheic keratosis is a condition that causes wart-like growths on the skin. The growths are noncancerous (benign). BenignBenign refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous. This means that it does not spread to other parts of the body. It does not in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes A seborrheic keratosis is a benign form of skin tumor. The cause is unknown.TumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article The condition commonly appears after age 40. It tends to run in families.Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / Symptoms Symptoms of seborrheic keratosis are skin growths that:Are located on the face, chest, shoulders, back, or other areas, except the lips, palms, and soles Are painless, but may become irritated and itchy ItchyItching is a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the area. Itching may occur all over the body or only in one location...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Are most often tan, brown, or black Have a slightly raised, flat surface May have a rough texture (like a wart) Often have a waxy surface Are round or oval May look like a piece of bee's wax that has been "pasted-on" the skin Often appear in clusters Exams and Tests Your health care provider will look at the growths to determine if you have the condition. You may need a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.Skin biopsyA skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment You generally do not need treatment unless growths get irritated or affect your appearance.Growths may be removed with surgery or freezing (cryotherapy).SurgeryA skin lesion is an area of the skin that is different than the surrounding skin. This can be a lump, sore, or an area of skin that is not normal. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CryotherapyCryotherapy is a method of superfreezing tissue in order to destroy it. This article discusses cryotherapy of the skin.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Removing the growths is simple and generally does not cause scars. You may have patches of lighter skin where growths on the torso have been removed.Growths usually do not return after they are removed. You may develop more growths in the future if you are prone to the condition. Possible Complications These complications may occur:Irritation, bleeding, or discomfort of growths Mistake in diagnosis (growths may look like skin cancer tumors) Skin cancerMelanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is also the rarest. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease. Other common types o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Distress due to physical appearance When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of seborrheic keratosis.Also contact if you have new symptoms, such as:A change in the appearance of the skin growth New growths A growth that looks like seborrheic keratosis, but occurs by itself or has ragged borders and irregular color. Your provider will need to examine it for skin cancer.Open ReferencesReferencesFitzpatrick JE, High WA, Kyle WL. Papillomatous and verrucous lesions. In: Fitzpatrick JE, High WA, Kyle WL, eds. Urgent Care Dermatology: Symptom-Based Diagnosis. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 28.James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Epidermal nevi, neoplasms, and cysts. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 29.Marks JG, Miller JJ. Epidermal growths. In: Marks JG, Miller JJ, eds. Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 5.Patterson JW. Tumors of the epidermis. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Limited; 2021:chap 32.Requena L, Requena C, Cockerell CJ. Benign epidermal tumors and proliferations. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 109.AllVideoImagesTogIrritated Seborrheic Kerotosis - neck - illustration This irritated seborrheic keratosis may easily be mistaken for a nevus. It is irritated, and erythematous. Treatment with liquid nitrogen is recommended.Irritated Seborrheic Kerotosis - neckillustrationIrritated Seborrheic Kerotosis - neck - illustration This irritated seborrheic keratosis may easily be mistaken for a nevus. It is irritated, and erythematous. Treatment with liquid nitrogen is recommended.Irritated Seborrheic Kerotosis - neckillustrationRelated Information Benign(Special Topic)Tumor(Condition)Itching(Symptoms) Review Date: 11/18/2022 Reviewed By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Seborrheic keratosisBenign skin tumors - keratosis; Keratosis - seborrheic; Senile keratosis; Senile verrucaSeborrheic keratosis is a condition that causes wart-like growths on the skin. The growths are noncancerous (benign). BenignBenign refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous. This means that it does not spread to other parts of the body. It does not in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes A seborrheic keratosis is a benign form of skin tumor. The cause is unknown.TumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article The condition commonly appears after age 40. It tends to run in families.Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / Symptoms Symptoms of seborrheic keratosis are skin growths that:Are located on the face, chest, shoulders, back, or other areas, except the lips, palms, and soles Are painless, but may become irritated and itchy ItchyItching is a tingling or irritation of the skin that makes you want to scratch the area. Itching may occur all over the body or only in one location...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Are most often tan, brown, or black Have a slightly raised, flat surface May have a rough texture (like a wart) Often have a waxy surface Are round or oval May look like a piece of bee's wax that has been "pasted-on" the skin Often appear in clusters Exams and Tests Your health care provider will look at the growths to determine if you have the condition. You may need a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.Skin biopsyA skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment You generally do not need treatment unless growths get irritated or affect your appearance.Growths may be removed with surgery or freezing (cryotherapy).SurgeryA skin lesion is an area of the skin that is different than the surrounding skin. This can be a lump, sore, or an area of skin that is not normal. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CryotherapyCryotherapy is a method of superfreezing tissue in order to destroy it. This article discusses cryotherapy of the skin.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Removing the growths is simple and generally does not cause scars. You may have patches of lighter skin where growths on the torso have been removed.Growths usually do not return after they are removed. You may develop more growths in the future if you are prone to the condition. Possible Complications These complications may occur:Irritation, bleeding, or discomfort of growths Mistake in diagnosis (growths may look like skin cancer tumors) Skin cancerMelanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is also the rarest. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease. Other common types o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Distress due to physical appearance When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of seborrheic keratosis.Also contact if you have new symptoms, such as:A change in the appearance of the skin growth New growths A growth that looks like seborrheic keratosis, but occurs by itself or has ragged borders and irregular color. Your provider will need to examine it for skin cancer.Open ReferencesReferencesFitzpatrick JE, High WA, Kyle WL. Papillomatous and verrucous lesions. In: Fitzpatrick JE, High WA, Kyle WL, eds. Urgent Care Dermatology: Symptom-Based Diagnosis. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 28.James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Epidermal nevi, neoplasms, and cysts. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 29.Marks JG, Miller JJ. Epidermal growths. In: Marks JG, Miller JJ, eds. Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 5.Patterson JW. Tumors of the epidermis. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Limited; 2021:chap 32.Requena L, Requena C, Cockerell CJ. Benign epidermal tumors and proliferations. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 109.