Seborrheic Keratosis/ Actinic Keratosis

Also known as seborrheic verruca, most people will develop at least one seborrheic keratosis during a lifetime. Fortunately, these lesions are benign and don’t become cancerous.

They are characterised as brown, black or yellow growths that grow singly or in groups and are flat or slightly elevated. Often they are mistaken for warts. Generally, no treatment is required unless the growth becomes irritated from chafing against clothing. However, because it look similar in appearance to precancerous growths (actinic keratosis), your dermatologist will likely biopsy the tissue to confirm the diagnosis.

If a seborrheic keratosis becomes irritated or unsightly, removal is conducted using one of these three methods:

1. Cryosurgery, which freezes off the growth using liquid nitrogen.
2. Curettage, in which the doctor scrapes the growth off the surface of the skin.
3. Electrocautery, used alone or in conjunction with curettage to burn off the tissue and stop the bleeding.

Actinic Keratosis

Also known as solar keratosis, actinic keratosis . These precancerous growths on the skin are caused by overexposure to the sun over a long period of time. They are characterised by rough dry lesions or patches that appear on sun-exposed areas of the skin, such as the face, back of hands, arms, scalp or shoulders. The lesions may be red, pink, gray or skin colored. Lesions often begin as flat, scaly areas and develop into a rough-textured surface. Sometimes it is easier to feel a growth than it is to see it.

Actinic keratosis is more common among fair-skinned people and those who have had years of outdoor or tanning bed exposure to ultraviolet light. Actinic keratosis can develop into malignant cells, typically squamous cell carcinoma, which is a type of skin cancer. That’s why treatment is important. After a physical examination and biopsy of the lesion, your dermatologist will opt for one of the following treatments to remove the growth:

1. Cryosurgery, which freezes off the growth using liquid nitrogen.
2. Surgical removal in which the doctor scrapes off the lesion and bleeding is stopped by electrocautery.
3. Chemical peels that cause the top layer of skin to peel off.
4. Photodynamic therapy in which a dye is applied that sensitizes the skin to light and the area is then exposed to light via a laser or other light source.
5. Topical Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) that cause a slow inflammation and peeling; used in more superficial cases.