Skin Disorders
- Acanthosis Nigricans
- Actinic Keratosis
- Aphthous Ulcers
- Athlete's Foot
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Barnacles of Aging
- Blue Nevi
- Bowens Disease
- Bullous Pemphigoid
- Chilblains
- Cholinergic Urticaria
- Condylomata Acuminata
- Congenital Nevi
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis
- Dermatofibroma
- Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
- Dyshidrotic Dermatitis
- Dyshidrotic Eczema
- Dysplastic Nevi
- Erythema Migrans
- Erythema Multiforme
- Essential Vulvodynia
- Exfoliative Dermatitis
- Flexural Psoriasis
- Fordyce’s Condition
- Freckle Removal
- Treatment For Genital Wart
- Granuloma Annulare
- Guttate Psoriasis
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Hyperhidrosis
- Impetigo
- Intertrigo
- Keloid
- Keratoacanthomas
- Keratosis Pilaris
- Lentigenes
- Leucoderma
- Lichen Planus
- Lichen Sclerosus
- Lichen Simplex Chronicus
- Lichen Striatus
- Lyme Disease
- Lyme Disease Information
- Lymphomatoid Papulosis
- Miliaria
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Mucocutaneous Candidiasis
- Mycosis Fungoides
- Myxoid Cysts
- Necrobiosis Lipoidica Disbeticorum
- Onychomycosis
- Orbital Cellulitis
- Pagets Disease
- Perioral Dermatitis
- Periorbital Cellulitis
- Pityriasis Alba
- Pityriasis Lichenoides Chronica
- Pityriasis Rosea
- Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
- Pompholyx
- Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
- Pruritis
- Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
- Pustular Psoriasis
- Schamberg’s Disease
- Sebaceous Hyperplasia
- Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Seborrheic Keratoses
- Sunburn
- Symptoms Vulvodynia
- Tinea Capitis
- Tinea Corporis
- Tinea Versicolor
- Urticaria Pigmentosa
- Variola
- Venous Angioma
- Vulvodynia Treatments
- Vulvodynia
- Xerosis
Seborrheic Keratoses
These are either tan, pink, brown or even black spots that appear on the skin. Seborrheic is a term for waxy and keratoses is a term for a thick growth on the skin. Together these mean that you have a thick growth on the skin that appear as spilt wax. They usually grow in groups on either the back of the neck, the back or the face. Although most common on the truck, seborrheic keratoses can actually appear anywhere on the body.
Am I in Danger of Getting Them?
They mostly develop in adult life with just a few appearing. As you age increases they may tend to grow in numbers. It is very rarely found to appear on children. The condition can be inherited so if someone in your family has had them then the chances are high that you will develop them as well.
Is This The Suns Fault? How Do I Avoid It?
Whether or not the sun causes seborrheic keratoses hasn’t been proven. The spots have been found both on areas that are exposed to the sun and areas that haven’t been exposed to the sun. This means you don’t have to worry about going outside during sunlight hours. There really is not way to avoid this condition, you simply either get it or you don’t. If you get these spots they can range in size from that of a BB to the size of a half-dollar.
Are These Spots Dangerous?
Although unsightly, there is good news when it comes to seborrheic keratoses. They are no cancerous and they aren’t likely to ever develop into cancer. It is one of the few skin disorders that you don’t have to worry about developing into cancer.
Now What?
First things first you should take a moment to relax and notify your family and friends that you don’t have cancer. Although you will likely want to know how to get rid of the condition even though it is not cancerous. Don’t waste your money on over the counter treatments since there are no ointments or oils that will work on seborrheic keratoses. There aren’t even any prescriptions that can get rid of the condition. The condition can only be removed by visiting a doctor and having them remove them by either cutting, burning or freezing with liquid nitrogen.
Do Any of These Methods Hurt?
There is always going to be some degree of pain when you are removing anything from your skin. Although the pain will go away and you can benefit from have an ugly skin growth removed. The procedure is very simple and is usually performed in the doctors office. It is very easy to get rid of this condition from your skin.
Freezing with liquid nitrogen is the most frequently used method. It is an extremely cold liquid gas that is about negative 321 degrees Fahrenheit. The gas is not dangerous since 71% of the oxygen we breathe contains nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto the infected area by your doctor causing it to freeze. The area will scab and then after two or three applications it will fall off leaving behind a smooth white scar that is better than the ugly sight of the seborrheic keratoses.
The methods of cutting and burning are pretty self explanatory and have the same results as freezing. The method used typically relies on your doctor’s preference. Although you can ask for another treatment the doctor is generally the one who knows the best method.
Suppose I Don’t Want It Removed?
If you are scared by any of these treatment methods then the good news is that you don’t have to remove the seborrheic keratoses unless it is bothering you since they don’t cause any harm. Although you should always have them checked out by a doctor. Even those the condition is non-cancerous you don’t want to take chances. A doctor or dermatologist can take a sample and once it is tested you will know for sure that you are safe.