Is seborrheic keratosis safe in older adults?

These growths can look brown, tan, or nearly black and may have a rough, waxy, or stuck-on surface. They can occur on the trunk, face, scalp, or limbs and may become irritated where clothing or jewellery rubs. Their appearance can overlap with other skin conditions, so a clinician may examine the lesion closely and occasionally remove part of it for laboratory assessment when the diagnosis is uncertain.

Arrange a skin review for a lesion that is new, changing, repeatedly irritated, or difficult to see clearly. Do not scratch, cut, or burn it at home. Photographing the area in consistent lighting can help you describe change, while a clinician can decide whether observation, removal, or testing is appropriate. Mention medicines that affect bleeding and any history of skin cancer.

Seek prompt assessment if the growth changes quickly, bleeds without clear injury, forms a persistent sore, develops marked pain, or has a noticeably different appearance from your other spots. Rapid change does not prove cancer, but it is a reason for examination rather than self-diagnosis.

Ask how confident the diagnosis is, whether the lesion needs dermoscopic examination or removal, what symptoms should be monitored, and how to care for the skin if it is removed. Ask whether its location makes friction or accidental injury more likely.