What should you know about traumatized seborrheic keratosis?

Seborrheic keratoses are common benign growths that can have a waxy, rough, or stuck-on appearance. Friction from clothing, jewellery, shaving, or scratching can make one irritated. It may look darker, swollen, crusted, or partly detached after trauma, which can make its original appearance harder to recognise.

Because an injured growth can resemble other skin lesions, examination is useful when bleeding, rapid change, persistent inflammation, or an unusual colour is present. The clinician may decide whether monitoring is reasonable or whether removal and laboratory examination are appropriate.

Keep the area clean, avoid picking the crust, and reduce rubbing with loose clothing or a simple protective dressing when appropriate. Do not apply household acids or attempt to cut the growth off. If removal is wanted because the lesion catches, itches, bleeds, or is bothersome, options can include freezing with cryotherapy, scraping with curettage and cautery, or electrosurgery. The method depends on thickness, site, pigmentation, and the clinician’s diagnostic confidence.

Book a skin assessment for a growth that bleeds without clear trauma, develops a persistent sore, changes quickly, becomes very dark or irregular, or repeatedly catches on clothing. Seek prompt care for spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, or escalating pain after injury or removal.

Ask whether the growth still has the expected features of seborrheic keratosis, whether a sample should be examined, and which removal method best fits its location. Discuss wound care, expected crusting, pigment change, and signs of infection.