Skin Growths & Lesions
Seborrheic Keratosis Treatment in Adelaide
The most commonly misidentified benign growth, and how it is assessed and treated.
Seborrheic keratosis is a common benign skin growth that appears as a waxy, warty or "stuck-on" patch, usually brown, tan or black. They are harmless and are not cancerous. They become more common with age and are frequently mistaken for melanoma because of their dark colour and irregular surface, which is why any such growth should be assessed by a doctor before removal.
Seborrheic keratoses are among the most common benign growths in adults. Most people develop them from their 40s onward, and many people have dozens.
They have a characteristic appearance that dermatologists often describe as "stuck on", as though the growth has been placed onto the skin rather than growing out of it.
They are entirely harmless. The reason they matter clinically is that they can closely resemble something that is not harmless, which is why assessment comes before any treatment.
Important
Seborrheic keratosis can closely resemble melanoma and other pigmented lesions. No growth of this type should be removed without medical assessment first. If a lesion is new, changing, bleeding, asymmetrical, has an irregular border, or has multiple colours, it requires medical assessment before any cosmetic treatment. We will refer rather than treat where that is the right course.
How to recognise one
- A waxy, warty or scaly surface texture
- A "stuck-on" appearance, as though it sits on top of the skin
- Colour ranging from light tan through brown to almost black
- Well-defined, usually round or oval borders
- Size from a few millimetres to several centimetres
- Most often on the chest, back, face, scalp and neck
This list describes the typical appearance only. It is not a substitute for assessment, and self-diagnosis of pigmented lesions is genuinely unsafe.
Seborrheic keratosis and melanoma
This is the single most important thing to understand. Seborrheic keratoses are benign and melanoma is not, but to an untrained eye they can look similar. Both can be dark, irregular in outline and change slowly over time.
The distinction is made by a trained practitioner examining the lesion in person, often with magnification. It cannot be made reliably from a photograph, and it cannot be made by comparing your skin to images online.
This is why our approach is assessment first, always. Where a lesion warrants further investigation, we say so and refer.
Why they are treated
- They catch on clothing and jewellery and become irritated
- They can itch or become inflamed
- They are cosmetically bothersome, particularly on the face and neck
- They can bleed if repeatedly caught or scratched
Common questions
Is seborrheic keratosis cancerous?+
No. Seborrheic keratoses are benign growths and do not become cancerous. The concern is that other lesions, including melanoma, can resemble them, which is why assessment before removal is essential.
What causes seborrheic keratosis?+
The exact cause is not fully established. Age is the strongest factor, and there is a clear genetic component, with many people finding they run in the family. Sun exposure may play a role in some cases.
Can seborrheic keratosis be removed?+
Yes, they can be treated once assessed. The method depends on the size, thickness, number and location of the growths, and is discussed with you after assessment.
Will they come back after removal?+
A treated lesion does not usually return in the same place, but people who develop them tend to form new ones elsewhere over time. This is a tendency rather than a treatment failure.
Should I be worried about a new dark spot?+
Any new, changing, irregular, bleeding or multi-coloured spot should be assessed by a doctor. That is true regardless of how likely it is to be benign, and it is not something to resolve by searching online.
Other concerns
All treatments require an individual consultation and suitability assessment. Results vary between individuals. Information on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.