Seborrheic Keratoses

Seborrheic keratoses are benign skin growths sometimes called ‘warty moles’ that appear as you get older. Typically, they range in color from white to black, but the majority are tan, brown, or gray. Although they may look worrisome, seborrheic keratoses are benign and do not require treatment. It is recommended to see a dermatologist to verify what you have is, in fact, a non-threatening seborrheic keratoses and not a skin cancer. We do not know what causes seborrheic keratoses, but a combination of genetic make-up and possibly sun exposure might play a role in their growth. Seborrheic keratoses are most often diagnosed clinically by your dermatologist looking at your skin. Rarely, a skin biopsy may be recommended to differentiate one of these growths from a skin cancer. If one or more of your seborrheic keratoses becomes inflamed, very itchy, or bleeds, it can be removed with liquid nitrogen, a scraping procedure, or a small surgical procedure.