ﺑﺎﺯﮔﺸﺖ ﺑﻪ ﺻﻔﺤﻪ ﻗﺒﻠﯽ
خرید پکیج
تعداد آیتم قابل مشاهده باقیمانده : 3 مورد
نسخه الکترونیک
medimedia.ir

Patient education: Seborrheic keratosis (The Basics)

Patient education: Seborrheic keratosis (The Basics)

What is seborrheic keratosis? — Seborrheic keratosis, or "SK," is a benign growth of the skin. "Benign" means not cancerous.

SK usually happens in people older than 50, but younger people also get it. The growths can look like something that was stuck on the skin (picture 1). They can be light tan, brown, or black (picture 2). It is usually easy to see where normal skin ends and the growth starts. The growths sometimes look scaly.

A person can have 1 or many of these growths. If there are more than 1, they are called "seborrheic keratoses."

What are the symptoms of SK? — SK often do not cause any symptoms, but they sometimes itch. They are most common on certain parts of the body. These include the:

Trunk (the chest, belly, and back)

Face

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — SK is common in older people. It is not skin cancer. But some people who get SK also get skin cancer. If you notice any new growths on your skin, ask your doctor or nurse to check them. They can make sure that they are not cancer or treat them if they are.

Is there a test for SK? — No. The doctor or nurse will do an exam and check your skin. They can usually tell if you have SK by looking at any skin changes and touching them.

If the doctor is not sure whether a skin growth is an SK, you will have a test called a "biopsy." During a biopsy, a doctor takes a small sample of the growth or takes off the whole growth. Then, another doctor looks at the tissue under a microscope to check for skin cancer.

The doctor can also do a test called "dermoscopy." In this test, they look at the skin with a small microscope with a light on it. The doctor holds this over the area with skin changes. The microscope and light help the doctor see under the skin. It can help show if a spot is SK or something else.

How is SK treated? — Most people with SK do not need treatment. But if the growths bother you or look bad, a doctor or nurse can usually take them off with:

Liquid nitrogen – This is a special liquid that gets very cold. It can leave an area of lighter skin where the SK was.

A scalpel or other small tool – The doctor or nurse can take off the SK after numbing the skin. They might then freeze the SK with liquid nitrogen to get rid of abnormal tissue under it.

Electricity – The doctor can use electricity to burn away the SK after numbing the skin. They might take off the SK first with a scalpel or other small tool, and then use electricity to get rid of abnormal tissue under it.

More on this topic

Patient education: Non-melanoma skin cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Melanoma skin cancer (The Basics)

Patient education: Common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Melanoma treatment; localized melanoma (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.
Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
Topic 83445 Version 6.0

آیا می خواهید مدیلیب را به صفحه اصلی خود اضافه کنید؟