Can a seborrheic keratosis become cancerous?

Key points about seborrheic keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis is a benign growth on your skin. The growths are not cancer. Usually these growths only cause cosmetic problems. They are very common in older people.

How can you tell seborrheic keratosis from melanoma?

The fact that a patient has several lesions with the same or almost the same appearance, is a strong indication of a diagnosis of seborrheic keratoses. Their greasy or verrucous consistency upon palpation distinguishes them from atypical pigmented naevi and malignant melanomas.

How can you tell the difference between seborrheic keratosis and skin cancer?

Despite their appearance, the big difference between seborrheic keratosis vs. melanoma is that seborrheic keratoses are harmless, noncancerous growths that can appear as you age. Whereas, melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer.

Can a keratosis become malignant?

Imagine visiting the dermatologist with concerns about a strange growth on your arm. You breathe a sigh of relief when your doctor tells you that the spot is an actinic keratosis (AK), meaning it isn't malignant…for now. It may stay benign, but it could also turn into a potentially life-threatening form of skin cancer.

Is seborrheic keratosis benign or malignant?

A seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a common noncancerous (benign) skin growth. People tend to get more of them as they get older. Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, black or light tan. The growths (lesions) look waxy or scaly and slightly raised.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Actinic Keratosis, and Seborrheic Keratosis: a Dermatology Lecture

Do seborrheic keratosis continue to grow?

They don't spread and they aren't contagious. Seborrheic keratoses usually grow slowly and may develop their texture gradually over time. If many seborrheic keratoses erupt suddenly together, it might raise some concern.

Can seborrheic keratosis grow quickly?

Seborrheic keratosis is a skin growth that appears in adulthood. Although they may be large and grow quickly, they are benign. They are not caused by sun damage so they can be found in areas that are also usually covered by clothing.

Can seborrheic keratosis turn into basal cell carcinoma?

Malignant tumour development within a seborrheic keratosis (SK) is extremely rare. Though the most commonly developed malignant tumour is the basal cell carcinoma (BCC), other tumour types have also been reported in literature.

What do precancerous lesions look like?

Visible signs of precancerous skin

While patches can vary in particulars, some of the signs include: Crustiness or bleeding. Diameter of less than one inch. Discoloration, often appearing brown, pink, gray, red, yellow, or white.

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage IA Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is less than 1.0 millimeter thick (less than the size of a sharpened pencil point) with or without ulceration (broken skin) when viewed under the microscope. Stage IB Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is more than 1.0 millimeter and less than 2.0 millimeters thick without ulceration.

Can melanoma grow in seborrheic keratosis?

Those studies clearly illustrated that the clinical diagnostic accuracy of melanoma ranges from 48% to 67%. They also confirmed that seborrheic keratosis is one of the lesions for which melanoma is commonly misdiagnosed. This error occurred in 7.7% to 31.0% of cases, depending on the study.

Can seborrheic keratosis look like squamous cell carcinoma?

Seborrheic keratoses are benign tumours that occur electively on the head, neck and trunk. Its clinical aspect is generally typical but sometimes misleading, as found in our case simulating a squamous cell carcinoma.

What causes seborrheic keratosis to flare up?

Hormonal changes – pregnancy, menopause, and other hormonal shifts will increase the likelihood of developing seborrheic keratoses. Sun exposure – while growths can develop on just about any part of the body, they are the most common in areas that are regularly exposed to sunlight.

Can you have only one seborrheic keratosis?

Seborrheic keratoses are noncancerous (benign) skin growths that some people develop as they age. They often appear on the back or chest, but can occur on other parts of the body. Seborrheic keratoses grow slowly, in groups or singly. Most people will develop at least one seborrheic keratosis during their lifetime.

What happens if you pick off a seborrheic keratosis?

Most seborrheic keratoses do not cause any symptoms and do not require treatment, however, many people are bothered by their cosmetic appearance and want them removed. The growths should not be scratched off. This does not remove the growths and can lead to bleeding and possible secondary infection.

What does a cancerous keratosis look like?

Actinic keratoses (ak-TIN-ik ker-uh-TOE-seez) appear as rough, scaly patches that can range from tan or dark pink to brown. Also called solar keratoses, these patches are commonly found on the sun-exposed areas of people who have light skin.

How do you know if a lesion is cancerous?

How long before precancerous cells turn cancerous?

These aren't cancer cells, but cells that may turn cancerous if left untreated for many years. It takes 10-15 years for pre-cancer to progress to cancer. If you already have cancer cells, this would show up as malignancy.

Does seborrheic keratosis spread?

Although seborrheic keratoses may first appear in one spot and seem to spread to another, they are not catching. As people age they may simply develop a few more. These growths may be unsightly, especially if they begin to appear on the face. They can get irritated by clothing rubbing against them.

What is inside a seborrheic keratosis?

Seborrheic keratoses are composed from a single clone of keratinocytes and inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Their surface may be friable, and lesions can be scraped off. Seborrheic keratoses spare the palms, soles, and mucosal surfaces.

How can you tell the difference between seborrheic keratosis and actinic keratosis?

Actinic keratoses can bleed easily and may take longer to heal. In some cases, the patches may be very sensitive, burn, or itch. Seborrheic keratoses can vary in how they appear. These growths are often rough and feel crumbly in texture, but sometimes can be smooth and waxy.

Can a seborrheic keratosis bleed?

Seborrheic keratoses can itch, bleed easily, or become red and irritated when clothing rubs them.

What is the best way to get rid of seborrheic keratosis?

Freezing a growth with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) can be an effective way to remove a seborrheic keratosis. It doesn't always work on raised, thicker growths. This method carries the risk of permanent loss of pigment, especially on Black or brown skin. Scraping (curettage) or shaving the skin's surface.

Can a dermatologist remove seborrheic keratosis?

How do dermatologists treat seborrheic keratoses? Because seborrheic keratoses are harmless, they most often do not need treatment. A dermatologist may remove a seborrheic keratosis when it is: Hard to distinguish from skin cancer.

Can a seborrheic keratosis fall off?

Unlike moles, seborrheic keratoses grow on the surface of the skin, and because of this they are often loosely attached and at times can fall off, especially if traumatized.