Seborrheic keratosis, what to do if a piece comes off. What is seborrheic keratosis of the skin and how to treat it? Avoiding factors that contribute to xerosis

Seborrheic keratosis has recently affected not only older people. More and more young people are turning to clinics for treatment of skin problems associated with neoplasms. Doctors still do not know the origin of seborrheic keratosis. The only treatment that medicine can offer at the moment is surgery.

Keratosis is a type of benign tumor, which means its relatively safe effect on the body. Apart from their unaesthetic appearance, stains do not affect health in any way. Formations on the body, both small and large, can be localized in individual areas of the skin, or cover a significant area of skin with a mesh.

It is officially believed that keratosis is a disease of old age, affecting the population over 40 years of age. 35% of cases are 40-45 years of age, 70% of patients with keratosis are 70-80 year olds. But there is also data on cases of both 15-year-old patients and 30-year-old patients.

The only difference is that in young people the formations appear as single manifestations, while in old and mature age keratosis can cover 1/5 of the entire skin. Medical scientists still cannot understand why keratosis spots appear on the human body.

The causes of seborrheic keratoma relate to the influence of the following factors:

prolonged exposure to the sun, when a person worked most of his life in open spaces under the influence of ultraviolet radiation (farmers, builders);
genetic predisposition;
suppressed immunity caused by long-term hormonal treatment, taking glucocorticosteroids;
oncological diseases of the stomach, blood, mammary gland, this type of keratoma is called Laser-Trélat syndrome.

Seborrheic keratosis can be recognized simply by characteristic spots on the body, localized anywhere except in areas devoid of fat (feet, palms).

More often they appear on the head, face, and back. At first, these are just round or oval-shaped spots, slightly darker in color than the skin tone. Then the formations darken, they have a clear boundary, become stale, and crack. The disease is not accompanied by other obvious symptoms, but itching may be felt in the affected areas.

How dangerous is the disease?

Seborrheic keratosis of the skin, the treatment of which is selected individually, manifests itself in the form of flat keratotic formations that do not affect health. There are keratomas, similar to warts, “pedunculated”, they can pose a risk of sudden skin damage.

If they stick out strongly, they can be accidentally caught on clothing, torn off or injured, causing the unpleasant consequences of suppuration and inflammation, as if a mole is torn off. Such formations are removed surgically at the request of the patient.

Another dangerous manifestation of keratomas may be their manifestation as a symptom associated with cancer, such as:

gastric adenocarcinoma;
colon;
formations in the mammary gland;
lymphoma;
leukemia

The diagram shows what seborrheic keratosis of the skin looks like.

In this case, the development of spots on the body occurs in a very short period of time, from a week to a month, while ordinary keratosis develops over years.

Types and classification of seborrheic keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis is distinguished by appearance and degree of development in the following classification:

flat– have a dark color very different from the skin, clear boundaries, raised a few tenths of a millimeter above the skin;
adenoid– characterized by large plaques that can crack;
inflammatory– inflamed plaques, accompanied by swelling, hemorrhage, peeling;
plastering– manifests itself as white formations on the lower parts of the legs;
papular– appears on the face as protruding papules;
irritated– red spots of irritation appear at the site of the plaque;
Laser-Trélat syndrome– multiple keratomas simultaneously appearing in the torso area, especially the back.

Diagnostics

Seborrheic keratosis of the skin, the treatment of which is established after visiting the clinic, is diagnosed by a dermatologist. It is not difficult to distinguish it - by appearance. In some cases, it may be necessary to visit other specialists if the tumor begins to rapidly increase in size.

Then the doctor refers the patient to an oncologist, who will prescribe a biopsy to determine the cancerous tumor. A dermatologist may be needed if the lesions begin to bleed and become inflamed. Most likely, they are irritated by clothing and need to be removed. In this case, the patient is referred to a cosmetologist who will select the optimal procedure for removing the keratoma.

Preparations for seborrheic keratosis

Treatment of seborrheic keratosis of the skin, in the classic version, involves treating the affected areas of the skin from drying out and inflammation. There are also methods for cauterizing keratoses using glycolic or trichloroacetic acid, but these are not publicly available and are used only by doctors during procedures.

The patient can use the following creams and products, some of which are available by prescription only:

Name	Indications	Mode of application	Notes	Price
Lokoid Krelo	seborrheic dermatitis; psoriasis; eczema.	lubricate the affected area 3-4 times a day for 1-3 weeks	If after 7 days of use the condition worsens, you should consult a doctor. While taking it, remove foods containing sodium and potassium from your diet. Children under 12 years of age and pregnant women are contraindicated.	292 — 440
Podophyllin	benign tumors; papillomas	lubricate problem areas with the solution after surgical removal once a day, for children once every 2 days	The product is used only after surgical treatment.	500 — 800
Tazarotene	keratinization of tissues; skin regenerating agent	rub into the skin no more than 2 mg per 1 cm² for no more than 6 months	Available according to prescription. It is better to use at night. Do not apply to the area around the eyes and mouth. First treat dry skin with cream. Do not use for children under 12 years of age or pregnant women.	—
Flonida	various types of dermatitis and skin diseases	Apply to the problem area no more than 4 times a day for 1-3 weeks	When using, control blood pressure, blood glucose levels, do not overeat, and do not eat foods rich in sodium and potassium.	390 — 627
Solcoderm	keratomas; warts; condylomas; nevus.	treat no more than 4-5 keratomas at a time for several days. If necessary, repeat the course after 4 weeks.	Before applying, treat the area with alcohol. After applying the ointment, avoid exposure to the sun and ultraviolet radiation.	735

Surgical removal

Surgical removal of benign tumors makes sense when they are in a visible place, such as on the face, arms, neck, and when they protrude so much that they cling to clothing. A torn keratoma can begin to fester, is difficult to heal and requires constant attention.

Surgical removal should also be considered if the person with the keratoses is involved in activities with a high risk of injury, such as hand-to-hand combat athletes. In this case, there is a risk of damage to the tumor area.

Cosmetic surgery offers several ways to remove tumors:

laser removal;
freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy);
radio wave removal;
cauterization with keratosis;
removal with a scalpel.

Laser treatment

Seborrheic keratosis of the skin, which is treated by removal, has been familiar to cosmetologists and dermatologists for a long time. Laser therapy is the most effective method, the most painless and the most expensive for removing keratomas.

It is usually resorted to by young people who do not want to see traces of the removal of tumors in the form of large white scars. Since the area of the keratoma can be large, the cut out area will be very visible to the naked eye. Before starting the procedure, the specialist collects data about the patient and his tolerance to certain drugs, especially anesthetics.

The laser burning process itself is painless, but some patients prefer additional injection of anesthesia under the skin.

During the burning process, the laser is directed to the keratoma area, and under a direct beam, the neoplasm is “evaporated” until a healthy layer of skin is reached. The procedure takes place without loss of blood, for 15-30 minutes only once. After this, a small wound remains, which the doctor will look after for another week. It lasts for 1-2 weeks without side effects.

Cryotherapy

Removal of papillomas, moles and keratotic formations using liquid nitrogen has been happening for a long time, which makes the procedure financially accessible. The temperature at which tissue is frozen is -180°C. In this case, the patient does not feel pain, there is no bleeding.

Painkillers are injected only into children and patients with a large area affected by the keratoma. As a rule, icecaine or novocaine is used. After the doctor injects the painkiller, 10 minutes pass and the procedure itself begins. Nitrogen is applied with a special device to the area of the neoplasm to a certain depth of two feet.

Freezing occurs instantly, and the tumor takes on a frozen color, turning light pink. Liquid nitrogen penetrates the tissue and freezes it from the inside, stopping blood circulation and metabolism in the freezing zone, after which the skin in this place simply dies.

Within a week after the procedure, the frozen lump disappears on its own. The only disadvantage of the procedure is that it is not always possible to determine the depth of the tumor. Therefore, when freezing, an insufficient area may be captured and only part of the keratoma is removed, or the area may be frozen too deeply, resulting in a deep surgical scar.

Radio wave treatment

This procedure is an alternative to laser. Only instead of a laser, a radio knife is used.

Before the procedure, the doctor finds out whether the patient has any contraindications, these include:

oncological diseases;
inflammatory processes in the area of removal of the formation;
herpes;
presence of a pacemaker.

The time required to remove one keratoma averages from 5 to 10 minutes. The doctor injects a painkiller under the skin and the pigmented area begins to evaporate. A radio knife is passed along the border of the keratoma, then the internal part is burned out. Next, the nurse wipes off the dead particles with gauze and cauterizes the area with an antiseptic, applying a plaster.

The wound, after the procedure, looks as if dead skin was removed from a water callus. It lasts for a week without leaving any traces. The thickness of the keratoma is so small that its removal is no different from removing a sunburn film. The procedure, on average, costs 2000 rubles. for 1 cm².

Chemical treatment

This method is a cheap, conservative treatment. The desired area of skin is cauterized with various acids, such as glycolic or trichloroacetic. Acid, acting on the skin, burns the affected area. The skin of the keratoma dries out and dies.

After this, it is necessary to take care of the resulting wound for a long time, treating it with antiseptic ointments or iodine. It is unsafe to do chemical cauterization at home; if you do not follow safety precautions when handling acids, you can cause serious chemical burns to your skin.

Couterage

Seborrheic keratosis of the skin, which is treated through surgery, is traditionally removed using a scalpel. This method is the rudest and most unpopular. The doctor, using a scalpel, simply cuts out the area of the keratoma along the contour, in place of which a large wound appears.

The procedure is performed using local anesthesia - ice caine is injected under the skin, and the patient does not feel pain. Afterwards there is a long period of healing, since, in essence, a piece of skin has been removed from the patient.

This method leaves rough scars that are very difficult to remove. Therefore, such operations are not performed on the face. This method is suitable for people with low incomes who need to quickly and cheaply remove a protruding mole or keratoma. This can be done by any surgeon in the clinic in 5 minutes.

Treatment of illness with folk remedies

Simple folk recipes that you can make at home will help you cope with hardening of the skin at the site of keratomas. They will not be able to remove formations, but they can cope with peeling, cracking and inflammation.

Aloe recipe. A sprig of a flower that has reached three years of age is doused with boiling water, wrapped in gauze and placed in the freezer for 15 days. After defrosting, cut the leaf into pieces and process the keratomas before going to bed. You can make compresses. Aloe juice reduces inflammation and produces a bactericidal effect.
Propolis recipe. A piece of propolis is dissolved in vegetable oil and the resulting mixture is applied to the tumors in the form of a compress.
Sea buckthorn or fir oil Suitable for rubbing rough skin, preventing cracking.
Another aloe recipe– the ground twig is mixed with baby cream and applied to problem areas. Before application, treat the area with ethyl alcohol.
Walnut. Grate the walnut kernel to a powder and mix with baby cream. The resulting nut oil is used for bleeding keratomas. If you don’t have nuts at home, you can replace them with castor oil.
Celandine ointment. Dry leaves are ground to powder and mixed with fat or baby cream. The resulting product.
Bay leaf ointment. Dry leaves are also ground into powder and mixed with an oil base; you can add a couple of drops of aromatic oil.
Potato compress. Raw potatoes are grated, wrapped in gauze and applied to the new growth for 30 minutes.

Forecast

It is impossible to predict anything for all those suffering from seborrheic keratosis. In each specific case, the disease progresses individually. Some patients, having had a keratoma removed once in their youth, never remember it again. While others observe the growth of keratosis throughout the body more and more every year.

Since doctors do not know the origin of the tumors, it is also impossible to prevent them. The only consoling point is that keratosis does not aggravate the overall health, and patients with this disease live a long and fulfilling life.

Seborrheic keratosis of the skin, which is diagnosed in the elderly as well as in young people, is a rather unpleasant disease from an aesthetic point of view. But medicine has long come up with ways to treat benign tumors through removal.

Video about seborrheic keratosis, its symptoms and treatment methods

Description of the disease:

Treatment of keratosis:

Content

Benign formations on the surface of the skin, which often occur in older people, are called seborrheic keratosis. Due to the age-specific selectivity of the disease, it received a second name - senile warts. The disease is not dangerous, but requires observation and medical control.

What is seborrheic keratosis of the skin

Keratoses are pathological skin conditions in which the regeneration process of the epidermis is disrupted. Keratinization (death and keratinization of cells) occurs without normal exfoliation. There are several types of this pathology:

follicular dyskeratosis;
ichthyosis;
gonorrheal keratosis;
angiokeratoma of Mibelli and others.

The most common type of disease is the seborrheic form. The disease is characterized by single or numerous formations of benign tumors on the skin in the form of round or oval plaques with clear contours. Horny skin is manifested by the appearance of elements on the front of the chest, on the back, on the face, neck and in any other part of the body.

The seborrheic type of disease is divided into several types. Even experienced dermatologists cannot always distinguish one from the other, so you cannot make a diagnosis yourself based on photos from the Internet. At the initial stage, the disease manifests itself as spots that stand out on the skin only in color. Over time, nodules and papules appear. At this stage, experts recommend visiting a doctor to examine the formations.

Senile keratoma

One of the forms of the disease is senile or senile keratosis. Initially, a brown or yellow spot forms, which becomes darker over time. Along with the color, the structure of the seborrheic spot also changes. The skin at the site of the tumor becomes loose and soft. A lumpy surface gradually forms, on which protrusions, depressions, veins, dark dots, etc. alternate. Even later, the stain begins to peel off, peeling off in small gray scales. The diameter of the senile keratome varies from 0.5 to 6 cm.

Seborrheic wart

A hyperpigmented spot on the skin with clear boundaries is called a seborrheic wart. Keratinization of the skin has a wart-like appearance, and the surface of the plaque is covered with dry horny crusts. Seborrheic neoplasms can occur on any part of the body, excluding the soles of the feet and palms. With age, the number and size of plaques may increase. Sometimes malignant transformation occurs, because keratoma is considered a precancerous skin disease of a benign nature.

Seborrheic keratoma

Keratinization of the skin in the seborrheic form of the disease occurs very slowly. Initially, a yellow spot forms on the skin, having a diameter of about 2-3 cm. Gradually, its color darkens and the surface becomes dense. On top of the seborrheic neoplasm are sebaceous growths that are easily separated from the skin. Over time, such warts become multi-layered, reaching a thickness of 1.5 cm. These types of keratomas, if mechanically damaged, can cause bleeding and discomfort.

Flat

If flat, slightly raised plaques appear on the patient's skin, they are classified into a special type - the flat type of seborrheic keratosis. The keratized area often has the same color as the skin, a smooth and even surface. Sometimes the pigmentation of the plaques is strong and pronounced. In medicine, this type of seborrheic neoplasm is also called acanthotic keratosis.

Reticular

The manifestation of the reticular type of keratosis occurs from microtumor cells. Numerous thin branches intertwined with each other extend from the epidermis. As a result, keratolization is formed in the form of a looped network. The pigmentation of seborrheic plaques is strong. Sometimes horny cysts are present on the surface. This type of tumor has another name – adenoid keratosis.

Irritated

If, when examined under a microscope, there is an accumulation of lymphocytes on the surface and inside the plaque, then the disease is classified as irritant keratosis. The appearance of seborrheic spots is flat, they do not protrude above the surface. Color can vary from black to light brown. This type of formation is also called hyperkeratotic.

Inflammatory

This type of disease occurs with obvious signs of an inflammatory process. Swelling, erythema, and hemorrhage may be observed. Inflammatory keratosis requires mandatory treatment and medical supervision. This lesion can be mistaken for malignant melanoma, so a biopsy is often required to confirm the correct diagnosis. This disease not only carries the threat of degeneration into a malignant tumor, but also contributes to the development of infections in the body.

Causes of seborrheic keratoma

Today, it has not been possible to reliably determine the reasons why keratomas appear on the skin. It is known that the disease is often a hereditary factor. There are versions about the viral nature of seborrheic formations and the connection between their appearance and exposure to UV radiation. The following probable causes of keratosis of the skin are called:

accumulation of toxins in the body;
skin aging;
neuroendocrine pathologies;
violation of metabolic processes;
lack of vitamin A;
unbalanced diet;
constant pressure or friction from clothing.

Symptoms

Neoplasms can occur on any part of the body except the feet and palms. The shape of senile warts varies, but more often they are round or oval. The sizes of keratomas vary from 2 mm to 6 cm in diameter. The surface has a soft structure, which over time becomes covered with a flaking and thickening crust. At first, it is difficult to recognize the disease, but over time, the signs of keratosis become more obvious. The variety of types and stages of keratomas requires diagnosis by a qualified specialist who will determine the need for treatment.

How to treat seborrheic keratosis

In rare cases, treatment of keratosis is mandatory. Most patients do not rush to seek medical help even with significant size, a large number of seborrheic formations, and even more so at the initial stage of the disease. Neoplasms that have begun to grow rapidly, bleed, or itch require immediate consultation. Examination and treatment for inflammatory processes on keratic plaques are also necessary. Those formations that cause inconvenience, constantly rub against clothes or jewelry, or cling to nails, also require attention.

The only effective measure to get rid of plaques is their radical elimination. This procedure is carried out in different ways: laser, nitrogen and others. To improve the condition of the skin, ointments and creams are used, but the therapeutic effect of these products is not always sufficient. The disease can also be treated using traditional medicine methods.

At home

If seborrheic spots and plaques are detected on the skin, the patient should consult a doctor for diagnosis. This measure is necessary to exclude more dangerous diseases. Treatment of keratosis at home comes down to treating the affected skin. You can soften the flaky area with heated oil: sea buckthorn, castor, walnut oil. Ointments and creams are also used, which, when used daily, destroy dead tissue and make the seborrheic wart smaller.

As a preventive measure for the disease and to prevent the appearance of new formations, the doctor may prescribe vitamin therapy. A significant dosage of vitamin C (3-4 grams per day) significantly affects the patient’s condition, stops the growth of existing seborrheic plaques and prevents new ones from appearing. The vitamin is taken in a course of 2-3 months, after which a break of at least 30 days is required.

Seborrheic keratosis removal

If the keratosis is large, looks too unaesthetic, and its treatment with conservative methods has not brought results, doctors recommend removing the formation. Modern medicine offers several gentle methods. How seborrheic keratosis is removed in each specific case is decided by the doctor. Of the methods most often used, the following methods of excision of formations are used:

laser removal;
cryodestruction;
electrocoagulation;
radiosurgical excision;
removal using liquid nitrogen;
surgical curettage.

Treatment of seborrheic keratosis with ointments

Conservative methods of treating keratosis are not as effective even in the initial stages as radical removal of seborrheic plaques. Ointments and creams for keratoma are prescribed only in cases of low blood clotting and other hematological diseases. The preparations include: urea, vitamins A and E, salicylic, lactic acid and other substances that help soften and exfoliate keratotic areas.

Traditional treatment

You should not self-medicate, as formations on the skin can be a symptom of melanoma or another dangerous disease. The specialist must conduct a study, after which, if necessary, adequate therapy will be prescribed. Traditional healers offer to cure the problem using alternative medicine recipes. Folk remedies for keratoma require a long period of treatment, which often takes more than one week. Among the popular and effective means of getting rid of plaques are the following:

Aloe leaves or juice. Freeze fresh aloe leaves and apply to affected areas of the skin. You can use the juice of the plant. It is rubbed into keratotic areas.
Chamomile, string, sage, calendula. Herbal decoctions are used for bathing. These products effectively soothe the skin and relieve itching.
Celandine. The juice of the plant is applied to the affected areas to reduce the size of the keratoma.
Propolis. A small, softened piece of propolis is applied to the problem area and covered with a bandage. This compress is left for several days (no more than 5), and then replaced with a new one. The procedure is repeated 3 times.

Video

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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There are many pathologies of the epidermis and one of them is seborrheic keratosis. Other names are prussic wart, seborrheic or senile keratoma. This disease causes unaesthetic and sometimes physical discomfort. For this reason, seborrheic keratosis is not ignored, but a doctor is consulted to prescribe therapy.

Keratosis is a pathology of the epidermis, characterized by the appearance of a neoplasm on the epidermis, which is benign in nature. There are several types of the disease and one of them is seborrheic keratosis.

As the disease progresses, a seborrheic keratoma appears. Locations: face, lower and upper limbs, neck and epidermis of the head. Usually formation does not occur singly, but in groups. At the first stage of development, the keratome is a brownish or yellow spot.

Over time, the formation increases in size, a characteristic crust and dark brown color appear. The surface of the wart cracks. When the formation grows, pain occurs. Often, an increase in size is accompanied by bleeding and itching.

With seborrheic keratosis, senile keratoma can also appear, which occurs after 30 years. Localization sites are the upper limbs, face and neck, less often - the abdomen, chest or back.

Externally, a keratoma is similar to a mole, but has a grayish-yellow or white tint. The formation increases in size over time and is sometimes accompanied by inflammation. The wart is benign in nature and rarely becomes malignant.

Reasons for appearance

Causes of seborrheic keratosis:

Regular exposure to the sun for long periods of time. As a result, the epidermis does not have time to absorb ultraviolet radiation. This leads to disruption of cell formation, which causes skin growth and keratinization of the skin;
Genetic predisposition. If the grandmother and mother had seborrheic keratoma, then there is every reason to believe that it will appear in the daughter;
Deficiency of nutrients in the body. Excessive consumption of fatty foods is also a provoking factor;
Predisposition to pathologies of the epidermis. If a person has constantly had the need to deal with dry or oily seborrhea throughout his life, then there is a high probability of developing seborrheic keratosis in adulthood;
Age-related changes. The disease develops after 30 years of age. At this age, the epidermis loses some of its protective properties, which leads to complex adaptation of the skin to sunlight and cold.

Why is it dangerous?

The main danger is that seborrheic keratomas can develop into malignant formations at any time. This happens suddenly and the appearance of the wart may not change.

The most dangerous condition is when malignant oncology develops on the epidermis directly under the keratoma. At the same time, the appearance of the wart does not change in any way. It is extremely difficult to diagnose seborrheic keratosis in the early stages of development, since the patient is not bothered by anything and does not observe external changes.

As a result, the patient receives untimely medical care. Sometimes this leads to the fact that the pathology is detected in the later stages, when the tumor has metastasized, which poses a danger not to the health, but to the life of the patient.

If multiple keratomas appear on the epidermis, this may indicate an oncological pathology of some internal organ. In this case, experts recommend performing a study not only of the formation, but also of the body as a whole.

Classification and characteristics of forms

There are several types of keratosis:

Follicular pathology. Symptoms of the disease are the appearance of yellow or pink nodules on the epidermis. The skin around the formations becomes red and inflamed;
Actinic pathology. The disease affects people over 45 years of age with a light-colored epidermis. Localization sites are uncovered areas of the skin. The pathology is characterized by small rashes of a gray or yellow hue, on the surface of which there are scales;
Horny keratosis or cutaneous horn. Externally, it is a conical formation with a dark or light shade. The pathology got its name due to its external resemblance to animal horns. Most often, the formation from a benign growth turns into a malignant form;
Seborrheic wart. Outwardly it resembles a mole, but with cracks on the surface. Such a formation rarely develops into a malignant tumor.

There are also several forms of seborrheic dermatitis:

reticular formation, on the surface of which there are horny brushes;
flat form, in which spots of bright dark shades are observed on the epidermis, which do not rise above the epidermis or rise, but only slightly;
inflammatory type - characteristic features are swelling of the soft tissues, redness of the epidermis near the formation;
irritable form - blood and mucus accumulate in the growth.

Symptoms of the disease

At the initial stage of development, seborrheic keratosis practically does not manifest itself at all. Colorless spots appear on the epidermis, which can only be detected with a thorough examination of the skin. Over time, the formation changes its shade to a darker one, rises above the epidermis, a crust and cracks appear on the surface.

The formations have different colors. The palette of shades includes yellow, brown, black, burgundy and gray. Seborrheic warts have a diameter of 1 mm to 10 cm. Keratoma is sometimes accompanied by itching, burning and bleeding.

The pathology has pronounced manifestations; if the first signs and clear symptoms are detected in adults, it is recommended to consult a doctor and a specialist, after conducting appropriate research, will prescribe treatment.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of keratosis consists of conducting an external examination and prescribing appropriate studies:

Cytological analysis. To conduct the study, a piece of the growth is taken from the patient;
Ultrasound of the soft tissues on which the keratoma is located.

Seborrheic keratoma of the skindiagnosed already during an external examination. An experienced doctor will not confuse the pathology with other formations. Additional studies are carried out only to determine the benign or malignant nature of the pathology.

Treatment

If seborrheic keratoma is diagnosed, only a doctor can prescribe treatment. You should not try to remove the growth yourself. Any such manipulation can lead to unpredictable consequences. Injury to the keratoma threatens to accelerate the growth of the formation, the rapid proliferation of warts and the transition of the growth to a malignant tumor.

In most cases, keratoma does not require removal or therapy. Surgeon intervention is required in the following cases:

if the formation experiences regular mechanical stress;
if itching, burning, inflammation and bleeding occur;
if the growth grows and multiplies quickly;
when pain occurs in the area of the affected epidermis.

Keratomas are also removed if they cause aesthetic discomfort. This is true if growths appear on the face and open areas of the body.

Preparations for seborrheic keratosis

At the initial stage of the pathology, treatment of seborrheic keratosis is recommended with special medications. The doctor prescribes the use of gels, creams, ointments and other similar products, which contain cytostatics and active acids.

Such components destroy keratosis cells. The products are used only as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision. The specialist must understand how the selected drug affects the formation, correctly calculate the dose and evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen therapy.

Traditional medicine treatment at home

Folk remedy therapy can only be used as prescribed by a doctor, since any independent treatment at home poses a danger to the health and life of the patient.

To treat seborrheic keratosis, you cannot use aggressive traditional medicine, as they injure the growth, which can lead to cancer.

Propolis is softened and fixed with a plaster on the problem area of the epidermis. The compress is renewed once a day. The bandage is worn continuously until the formation disappears;
Small beets are peeled and grated into a fine grater. The resulting slurry is fixed on the affected area of the epidermis using a bandage and adhesive tape. The product is kept for four hours. The procedure is carried out daily;
Pork fat is melted and mixed with crushed celandine. The resulting ointment is used to treat the problem area several times a day. The product is stored in the refrigerator.

In this video, you can see effective methods of treatment with folk remedies:

Surgical removal

There are several ways to surgically remove a keratoma. The choice of technique depends on the individual characteristics of the patient, his financial capabilities and the stage of development of the pathology. Methods for removing formation:

Surgical intervention. The essence of the procedure is cutting out all damaged soft tissues with a scalpel;
Laser removal of tumors. One of the most popular methods of treating seborrheic keratosis. The essence of the procedure is burning out the growth using a laser;
Treating the build-up with liquid nitrogen. The procedure is safe and painless.

Preventive measures

To reduce the risk of seborrheic keratosis, doctors recommend the following preventive measures:

sunbathe less often and visit the solarium;
before going outside, treat the epidermis with protective agents;
normalize unstable emotional background;
adhere to the principles of proper nutrition;
to refuse from bad habits;
to live an active lifestyle.

Seborrheic keratosis is a pathology of the epidermis that can trigger the development of cancer. To avoid this, you should consult a doctor immediately after the onset of the disease.

Keratoses are a group of skin diseases of non-inflammatory origin. Pathology manifests itself in the appearance on the skin of benign neoplasms from single or multiple coarsened and keratinized tissues of the epidermis. The appearance of keratomas (size, color) can be different, but they all bring both physical discomfort (itching, itching) and aesthetic discomfort, since these dark growths look extremely unpleasant.

Seborrheic keratosis of the skin is also called senile keratosis, since it usually develops in people of retirement and pre-retirement age.

Seborrheic keratosis is a benign tumor consisting of keratinized skin cells. The first manifestations are usually small colorless, light pink or yellowish spots that do not irritate the skin. In the absence of treatment over time, the disease slowly progresses, the spots multiply, increase in size, rise above the skin level, darken to a brown or burgundy heterogeneous color with black inclusions.

Advanced keratosis has a flaky, itchy, irritated surface that looks like a jumble of small warts. Touching them brings agony and pain, and can lead to bleeding.

Reasons for appearance

At the moment, there are many versions of the appearance and development of seborrheic keratosis, but none of the reasons is 100% proven. Many doctors are inclined to believe that age-related factors contribute to the formation of keratosis, but why then does it not occur in all elderly people? Some scientists insist that seborrheic dermatitis is a consequence of prolonged exposure to sunlight, but how then can we explain that it appears on both open and covered areas of the body?

Doctors suggest that the following factors may contribute to the appearance of seborrheic keratoses:

age-related changes in skin structure (after 50 years);
genetic predisposition (the chance of growths appearing in blood relatives is much higher);
frequent microdamage to the skin surface (for example, chafing, peeling, calluses, tight clothing);
regular and prolonged exposure to sunlight;
exposure to chemicals (acids, alkalis, detergents, deodorants, fresheners, toilet water, work in a chemical laboratory, factories);
chronic diseases of the endocrine system;
immunodeficiency;
poor monotonous diet, lack of vitamins and minerals;
taking hormonal medications, including contraceptives;
pregnancy period.

Why is it dangerous?

Despite the fact that seborrheic keratosis is recognized by medicine as a benign tumor, its danger does not lie only in its external unaestheticness. There is a connection between keratosis and cancer and it is quite close.

Sometimes the external similarities between skin cancer and seborrheic keratosis are so great that even the most qualified dermatologists and oncologists are unable to distinguish one from the other by appearance. In this case, the problem can only be solved by histological analysis of tumor tissue.

In addition, cancer cells can begin to develop at any time right at the base of the keratoma, without manifesting themselves in any way externally. This is the most dangerous scenario, since in this case the cancer may be detected at an advanced stage, then doctors will not be able to help the patient. In this regard, the most dangerous are large formations that protrude strongly from the skin level.

The accumulation of multiple seborrheic keratoses in one area of the body may indicate the development of cancer in one of the patient’s internal organs. If overgrown seborrheic tumors are detected, doctors suggest conducting a full examination of the body.

Classification and characteristics of forms of keratosis

Experts divide keratosis into several types:

Follicular keratosis is characterized by the appearance of light pinkish or yellowish nodules, which may be accompanied by redness and inflammation of the skin around them. The nodules are located on the hair follicles, preventing them from opening. The cause of this syndrome has not yet been established.

Actinic (solar) keratosis affects fair-skinned people over 45 years of age. In places constantly exposed to the sun's rays, small transparent, pink or gray spots appear, covered with rough scales. The surrounding skin becomes red and inflamed. Over time, the disease slowly progresses and, if left untreated, degenerates into squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma.

Horny keratosis (cutaneous horn) - very similar to animal horns, is an elongated conical growth of a darkish color. The skin horn can grow singly or as a whole scattering, in most cases it eventually degenerates into a cancerous disease. Therefore, the treatment of keratosis cornea cannot be shelved; surgical intervention is required immediately after detection and diagnosis.

Senile (seborrheic, senile) keratomas are very similar in appearance to warts: round or oval, slightly raised above the skin, covered with keratinized cells of beige, gray, brown or even black. Seborrheic keratosis develops over a long period of time, the risk of cells turning into cancer is minimal.

Seborrheic dermatitis itself also has several forms of manifestation:

the flat form is characterized by the presence of flat spots that do not rise or are slightly raised above the skin level, their color is almost always bright and dark;
reticular keratoma is distinguished by the presence of horny brushes on its surface;
the irritated type of seborrheic keratosis is distinguished by the presence of an accumulation of a mixture of blood and lymph in the tissues of the neoplasm;
the inflamed form is immediately noticeable by severe redness of the skin, swelling, bleeding; this is the most dangerous type of seborrheic keratosis in terms of oncogenicity.

Symptoms of the disease

The initial stage of seborrheic keratosis usually goes unnoticed and asymptomatic. A flat, rough, colorless spot appears on the skin, which few people will notice. The fact that this is a seborrheic keratoma is learned much later, when the spot becomes bright and dark, acquires smooth round edges, rises above the skin level and is covered with a rough stratum corneum with many folds. A keratoma can remain solitary or grow into two dozen neoplasms.

The growths can affect any part of the human body except the palms of the hands, feet and mucous membranes. Most often they can be seen on the chest, abdomen, back, shoulders and neck. The color range of formations is quite wide: flesh-colored, yellow, gray, brown, burgundy, black. Size - from 1 mm to 10 cm. They may not be felt on the skin or itch, itch and bleed.

The development of the disease is not rapid, neoplasms grow slowly, and from the appearance of the first signs to a serious form can take from several to ten years.

Diagnosis of keratosis

If you discover any neoplasms in yourself, you should rush to see a qualified doctor; in no case should you draw your own conclusions by comparing your feelings with the symptoms from a medical reference book. It is not always possible to accurately determine the nature and danger of growths by external signs.

An experienced dermatologist-oncologist will be able to determine whether the neoplasm is a keratosis, the stage of development of the disease and the degree of its danger in terms of degeneration into an oncological disease. If factors predisposing to oncology are detected, the doctor prescribes removal of the growths using one of the available methods, followed by histological analysis of particles of excised tissue.

Treatment

After establishing the final diagnosis of “Seborrheic keratosis of the skin,” you should immediately visit a doctor and decide on further treatment. It is extremely important to realize that you will not be able to get rid of the growths on your own. Even if you try to cut off a small growth with a knife, creating sterile conditions, the consequences can be catastrophic. With the naked eye, it is impossible to determine the boundaries of keratoma cells from healthy ones, and trauma to the tissues of the growth can lead to the fact that the neoplasm begins to grow, multiply, and degenerate into a malignant tumor faster. Most transformations of seborrheic keratosis into squamous cell carcinoma occur due to intentional or accidental damage to the surface of the growth.

Keratoma is a benign neoplasm, that is, it does not bring negative consequences to human life and health, so in most cases it does not need to be removed. With constant monitoring by a dermatologist and the absence of factors predisposing to cancer, you can live with it all your life without feeling discomfort. However, we should not forget that under certain conditions the formation can degenerate into a cancerous tumor, so you should immediately contact a specialist to remove the growth if it:

is regularly injured by friction with clothes, shoes, while shaving, clings to a belt, etc.;
it becomes inflamed, itches, itches, bleeds, the skin around it turns red;
quickly increases in size, becomes hard and painful when pressed.

Often keratomas have to be removed due to a cosmetic defect, especially if they are highly pigmented or located on visible areas of the body (face, neck, chest, arms).

The most common benign tumor in older people; frequency increases with age.
IN research In a study of people over 64 years of age in North Carolina, 88% of those examined had at least one lesion of seborrheic keratosis. Ten or more lesions were found in 61% of black men and women, 38% of white women, and 54% of white men.
International Studies show that 8-25% of people under 40 years of age have at least one lesion of seborrheic keratosis.
Family cases multiple seborrheic keratosis(KS) are observed in approximately half of patients with this disease, the type of inheritance is autosomal dominant.

This form of focal hyperpigmentation is caused by changes in the epidermis as a result of proliferation of epidermal cells.
In pigmented lesions seborrheic keratosis(CK) proliferating keratinocytes release cytokines that activate nearby melanocytes and stimulate their division.
Reticular lesions seborrheic keratosis(LS) are sometimes found on sun-exposed areas of the skin and may develop from actinic lentigines.

In rare cases, in outbreaks seborrheic keratosis(BS) may develop Bowen's disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) or melanoma.
Multiple eruptive lesions of seborrheic keratosis (SK) are associated with malignant tumors of internal organs (Leser-Trel sign), especially adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract.
Lesions of lesions seborrheic keratosis(KS) may occur after inflammatory dermatosis, such as severe sunburn or eczema.

Diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis

Outbreaks may have a variety of appearances.
In typical cases, oval or round brown plaques with tightly adjacent sticky scales.
The color of the lesions varies from black to light brown.
The surface of the lesions is usually velvety or finely warty, while the lesions themselves seem to be “pasted on.”
Some lesions have a pronounced verrucous surface and look like warts.

Sometimes the lesions are large (up to 35x15 cm), pigmented with uneven edges.
Seborrheic keratosis lesions may be flat.
Keratotic plugs are often observed on the surface of lesions.

Cracks and horny cysts are observed on the surface of some lesions.
In some cases of irritation, itching, growth and bleeding of the lesions are noted, and a secondary infection is also possible.

Variants of seborrheic keratosis:
- Black papular dermatosis - multiple black-brown smooth dome-shaped papules on the face in young and middle-aged patients, usually with dark skin.

Stucco keratosis or “plaster” keratosis (stucco - decorative plaster) - many flat lesions of gray or light brown color on the outer surface of the feet and ankles, as well as the back surface of the hands and forearms, reminiscent of splashes of decorative plaster.

Typical location of seborrheic keratosis:
Torso, face, back, stomach, limbs; not found on the palms and soles, as well as on the mucous membranes. Can be observed on the areola and mammary glands.
Black papular dermatosis occurs on the face, especially the upper cheeks and lateral periorbital areas.

Imaging studies are usually not required unless the sudden appearance of multiple seborrheic keratosis (SK) lesions indicates Leser-Trel's sign. Such lesions are combined with adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract, lymphoma, Sezary syndrome and acute leukemia.

Seborrheic keratosis biopsy carried out in cases suspected of melanoma. Some melanomas resemble seborrheic keratosis, and a biopsy is necessary to rule out malignancy. Do not use freezing or curettage for suspicious lesions of seborrheic keratosis (SK) - this requires surgical intervention and pathological examination.

Differential diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis

Melanoma: Visible keratotic plugs on the surface of the lesion help differentiate seborrheic keratosis (SK) from melanoma.
Actinic lentigo is a flat, uniformly brown or dark brown lesion with clear contours. Flat lesions of actinic lentigo are located in sun-exposed areas, usually on the face or dorsum of the hands. Such hyperpigmented areas are usually not palpable, while a seborrheic keratosis (SK) lesion is always palpable, even if it is quite thin.
A wart is a neoplastic skin formation caused by the papilloma virus. The dome-shaped lesions, approximately 1 cm in diameter, are located on a broad base and have a hyperkeratotic surface. When the top layer is separated, a central core of keratinized cell masses and areas of pinpoint bleeding are observed.

Pigmented actinic keratosis: Although most actinic keratosis lesions are unpigmented and do not resemble seborrheic keratosis (SK), biopsy results of an unidentified pigmented plaque in some cases indicate pigmented actinic keratosis developing after sun exposure.
An inflamed seborrheic keratosis (SK) lesion can be mistaken for malignant melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma, and a biopsy is necessary.
Basal cell carcinoma can sometimes resemble seborrheic keratosis.

Treatment of seborrheic keratosis

A quick and easy treatment method is cryotherapy with a 1 mm wide rim of skin outside the lesion. Risk factors include changes in pigmentation, incomplete resolution of the lesion, and scarring. The most common complication is hypopigmentation, especially in dark-skinned patients.
Treatment of benign lesions with a curette ensures complete removal without trapping the underlying normal tissue.
Light electrofulguration can make curettage so easy that it can be done with a damp gauze pad.
If the diagnosis has not been established, but there are no signs indicating melanoma, a suspicious lesion of seborrheic keratosis (SK) is removed using a deep tangential biopsy, and the material is sent for histological examination.
If melanoma is suspected, but seborrheic keratosis (SK) remains in the differential diagnostic range, a full-thickness biopsy of the lesion is performed using incisional or ellipsoidal excision, and the material is sent for histological examination.

Recommendations for patients with seborrheic keratosis:
The patient must be informed of the benign nature of the lesions, which do not develop into cancer, except in very rare cases.
Although benign KS lesions may enlarge and thicken over time, they remain primarily a cosmetic problem.
Spontaneous resolution is quite unusual, although some lesions of KS may occasionally resolve.

Some experts suggest monitoring patients with multiple lesions of seborrheic keratoses (SK), since such patients may develop malignant tumors in other areas of the body, but malignancy of the lesion of seborrheic keratoses (SK) itself is extremely rare.