What should you know about treat seborrheic keratosis?

Seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin growth that may be flat or raised, smooth or rough, and tan, brown, or darker. It can occur on the trunk, face, scalp, or limbs. Its surface may feel waxy or look stuck on. Appearance can vary, so a new, changing, bleeding, or unusual growth deserves assessment rather than automatic treatment.

Treatment is often optional when the diagnosis is clear and the growth causes no trouble. A clinician may recommend removal if it catches on clothing, becomes inflamed, itches, bleeds after rubbing, or affects an area where you want it reduced.

Common in-clinic options include cryotherapy, which freezes the growth; curettage and cautery, which removes it and controls surface bleeding; and electrosurgery, which uses electrical energy to treat the tissue. The choice depends on thickness, size, location, pigmentation, skin type, and whether a specimen should be examined. After treatment, expect a small healing area that may crust or change colour temporarily. Follow the wound-care instructions and avoid picking the scab.

Arrange an assessment before elective removal if the lesion is changing quickly, asymmetrical, very dark, painful, persistently crusted, or bleeding without obvious friction. After treatment, contact the clinic for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, fever, or pain that is getting worse instead of settling.

Ask whether the growth needs monitoring or removal, whether tissue should be sent for examination, and which method is least likely to disturb nearby skin. Clarify wound care, sun protection, pigment changes, and how recurrence or a new growth would be handled.