What is Seborrheic Keratosis?

Seborrheic keratosis are growths that are often confused with warts or moles. These are growths which are non cancerous which grow on the outer layer of the skin know as the epidermal layer. They can appear as one growth or as a group of growths together. When it comes to color, they can either be tan, brown or black depending on the individual. The smallest SK would be half an inch while the biggest one would be larger than half a dollar.

Seborrheic keratosis has some features that make it unique in its own way. Firstly it has the appearance of being stuck on. This means that it looks like it was put there or that it caught on from somewhere. As mentioned before it grows out of the top layer of skin and not under it like that of warts and moles.

What is the cause of seborrheic keratosis?

The exact cause of seborrheic keratosis remains a mystery. What scientists do know is that it seems to run in families and it does not form as a result of exposure to sunlight. To prove this some people developed these growths in areas that are not usually exposed to the sun. These growths are said to increase with age and the likeliness of developing them while you age increases. These growths tend to appear in one spot then form in another as much as it may look that way; they are not contagious and cannot be passed on from one person to another.

Who can get these growths?

There is no exception when it comes to who can develop seborrheic keratosis, anyone can get them. For some they seem to get them at an earlier age and they seem to increase while others get the occasional one here and there. For some women, they can develop these growths as a result of the hormone estrogen.

Where do these growths occur?

They are more than likely to occur on the back or on the chest though there are other places reported to have developed them like the face, neck and even scalp. They first start out like small pimples that are itchy and with time they grow and develop a wart like surface hence the confusion between the two.

What you need to know is that these growths are not cancerous and are not life threatening. The best way to remove such a growth would be through the use of electric surgery or a topical keratosis removal cream.

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