4 commonly asked questions about skin keratosis
Aging is a natural phenomenon, and the body undergoes several changes as we grow old. Though growing old implies getting wiser and receptive to the things that go on in our surroundings, these changes are seldom welcomed open-heartedly. Everything that one considered to be the most attractive factor about themselves—the hair, the skin, the nose, or the dimples—starts displaying a steady decline, which can pose a problem for people struggling to come to terms with their aging bodies.

Read on to know more about seborrheic keratosis and effective ways of dealing with this unpleasant condition.

What is skin keratosis?

• Skin keratosis is a type of skin condition that is known to affect the elderly. This seborrheic keratosis gives rise to several abnormal skin growths, which might appear quite serious but are seemingly harmless.
• Though the pictures of skin keratosis might resemble skin conditions that cause cancerous growth, the abnormal skin growth which is a characteristic of skin keratosis is noncancerous and benign. However, on initial detection, the abnormal growth displayed in skin keratosis pictures often resembles those of serious types of skin cancer.
• The seborrheic keratosis appears in the form of black, brown, or light tan growth on the face, chest, shoulders, or back. Though these abnormal skin growths are quite unsightly, these are painless and can be removed by adhering to different treatment methods.

What does seborrheic keratosis look like?

• One glance at pictures of skin keratosis, and it is possible to easily identify them. Seborrheic keratosis gives rise to abnormal skin growth that starts out as small, rough areas and goes on to develop into a full-fledged thick wart-like surface.
• The growths caused by this skin condition are usually round or oval in shape and can be brown, yellow, white, or black in color.
• These wart-like growths have a “stuck-on” appearance which can appear waxy and have slightly raised surfaces.
• Seborrheic keratosis may cause multiple lesions to appear on the chest, shoulders, abdomen, face, and scalp. In fact, these abnormal skin growth can appear anywhere on the body except the palms and soles of the feet.

Who is more susceptible to developing seborrheic keratosis?
As mentioned earlier, seborrheic keratosis affects the elderly population. However, this does not imply that every older adult will be afflicted by seborrheic keratosis. There are certain preordained conditions that make the individual more susceptible to developing seborrheic keratosis. The risk factors for developing this condition are as follow:

• Age – Seborrheic keratosis is a skin condition that affects only the elderly population. Usually, this skin condition affects people in their middle ages but becomes more prominent when they turn 50.
• Family history – Seborrheic keratosis is a genetic condition, and it often runs in the family. If one has quite a few relatives with the same skin condition, they are more susceptible to develop seborrheic keratosis as they age.
• Sun exposure – Studies have identified a link between sun exposure and seborrheic keratosis. The more an individual is exposed to the sun, the more is his/her chance of developing this condition.

When is it advisable to visit a doctor?
Seborrheic keratosis is a harmless skin condition whose only claim to notoriety is that it is unpleasant to the eyes. However, it is always advisable to pay attention to any abnormal skin growth, and whether it is benign or malignant should be decided by a doctor. So to stay on the safer side and determine whether the abnormal growth is cancerous or benign seborrheic keratosis, you need to visit the doctor under the following circumstances:

• There’s a new growth on your body
• The existing skin growth changes its appearance
• The growth has an unusual color like purple, blue, or reddish-black
• The abnormal skin growth is painful and irritating
• The skin growth has irregular borders that are blurred or jagged
• There’s only a single growth, as seborrheic keratosis causes several growths

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