How is seborrheic keratosis different in older adults?

These growths often look as though they are stuck onto the skin. They can be tan, brown, black, or pale, with a waxy, rough, or crumbly surface. They may occur on the trunk, face, scalp, or limbs and can thicken or multiply over time. Appearance alone is not always enough to distinguish a harmless growth from another lesion, particularly when the colour is very dark or the surface has been altered by scratching.

Do not scratch, cut, burn, or use an unprescribed remover on the growth. Photographing it beside a ruler can help you notice change, while a clinician can examine it with magnification and decide whether removal or testing is appropriate. Irritated lesions may be removed if they catch on clothing or bleed from repeated friction. Protect exposed skin from sun and avoid picking.

Book a skin assessment for a growth that appears new, changes quickly in size, shape, colour, or texture, repeatedly bleeds, forms a persistent sore, or becomes painful. Seek earlier advice when several spots change together or when the diagnosis is uncertain; these features do not identify the cause by themselves, but they should not be ignored.

Ask whether the lesion has the typical appearance of seborrheic keratosis, whether monitoring is reasonable, and which removal options fit its location and thickness. Mention bleeding, repeated irritation, recent change, and any personal history of skin cancer.