Individuals are exposed to many skin conditions, especially when they grow old. The adverse environmental changes, such as extreme sunlight, can increase the severity of these conditions. Some of these conditions are harmless, although they can interfere with your appearance and attractiveness. For instance, Chevy Chase seborrheic keratosis is characterized by waxy and scaly skin that is painless. However, with time, this condition can be irritating and thus necessitate treatment. Here is everything you need to know about seborrheic keratosis.
Table of Contents
What are the symptoms of seborrheic keratosis?
In most cases, this condition does not cause any symptoms. However, some people have reported;
- Irritating skin
- Bleeding in the affected region
- Skin itching
- Clustered growth in some parts of the face, such as around the eyes.
What are the risk factors of the condition?
The following factors can increase the likelihood of a person developing seborrheic keratosis.
- Pregnancy: the hormonal changes during pregnancy expose pregnant women to this condition.
- Lighter skin: individuals having light skin are more likely to develop seborrheic keratosis. However, dark skin individuals can get this condition, although it is rare.
- Sun exposure: some types of seborrheic keratosis, such as adenoid type, are caused by extreme exposure to sunlight.
- Older age: The chances of getting this condition increases with time as an individual grows old.
- Genetic factors: Individuals in the family with a history of having seborrheic keratosis are at risk of getting this condition.
How to tell the difference between seborrheic keratosis and actinic keratosis
Most people are usually confused between the two conditions since they can have a resemblance. For instance, both develop when individuals turn forty years old, and the conditions appear as crusty and scaly skin. However, unlike seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis has a small risk of developing skin cancer. The color of actinic keratosis has fewer pigments than that of seborrheic keratosis. Knowing the difference between the two conditions is vital since actinic keratosis is more severe and could be confused with seborrheic keratosis, which is less severe.
How to differentiate between melanoma and seborrheic
Some individuals claim that seborrheic keratosis turns into melanoma, but this is not true. These are two conditions that can occur in any part of the skin. The following are some differences between the two conditions;
- Melanoma appears as a single pigment on the skin, while seborrheic keratosis occurs as several pigments.
- The melanoma is smooth, while seborrheic keratosis has a rough texture
- The colors of seborrheic keratosis are uniform, while melanoma can have multiple colors
- Seborrheic keratosis is characterized by little and gradual change, while melanoma changes rapidly.
Diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis
Here is how the dermatologist identify this condition in your skin
- Examination: in this case, the specialist recognizes the condition with their naked eyes.
- Dermoscopy: the healthcare providers use a dermoscopy to trace the growth of seborrheic keratosis.
- Biopsy: sometimes, the specialists may suspect cancer; therefore, they take a sample of the skin growth for assessment in the lab.
Most individuals are exposed to skin growths and other skin conditions as they grow old. These conditions usually undermine appearance and can lower the individuals’ self-esteem. If you are one of them, you should seek effective treatment. Ali Hendi, MD, and a team of skin specialists use their vast experience to offer various treatments for skin growths and skin cancers. Book an appointment today and visit their office to receive effective treatment.
Related Posts:
