seborrheic keratosis removal

Seborrhoeic Keratosis

Achieve clearer skin with seborrhoeic keratosis removal today.

Safe and effective treatment options to remove these common skin growths.

seborrhoeic keratosis
Seborrhoeic keratoses on the back

About

Affectionately termed ‘Wisdom spots’, Seborrhoeic warts (aka Seborrhoeic keratosis) are benign skin growths that get more common as we age. Although they have a ‘warty’ appearance, they are not caused by a viral infection. They are harmless skin growths of the upper layers of the skin (epidermis).

OUR APPROACH

HOW DR.NG TREATS seborrhoeic keratosis

Seborrhoeic keratosis are common harmless skin growths encountered in adults, with an increased incidence with age. Multiple in number, and with a predeliction for the facial and truncal areas, they often appear unsightly, leading many to seek treatment. With over 15 years of clinical experience, Dr Ng. is adept at removing skin lesions of all sizes and at different locations with a range of techniques that is unique to your condition.

What Causes it?

Although very common in the population, the exact cause of seborrhoeic keratoses remains unknown. It is considered a sign of extrinsic aging and may be correlated to chronic UV exposure. Although a viral hypothesis had been put forth, it has not be clearly proven in recent studies. 

What Does It Look Like?

Seborrhoeic keratoses tend to be concentrated over the face, neck, arms and trunk area, and multiple skin growths are the norm. Slowly growing, seborrhoeic keratoses are round to oval in shape with a rough surface and appear stuck onto the skin. In some cases, they can appear quite suddenly.

Early seborrhoeic keratoses look pale or light brown in colour, and they progressively get darker over the years. This may worry some patients about skin cancer, when they notice a change in colour and size of the seborrhoeic keratoses They may cause skin irritation, but more often patients complain that they are cosmetically unattractive.

What Are The different Types?

Medical assessment

How Is It Diagnosed?

Most of the seborrheoic keratoses can be diagnosed based on clinical appearance. 

In cases where there is diagnostic doubt, a skin biopsy is undertaken to confirm the diagnosis and to exclude skin cancer.

Are they Harmful?

It does not cause any health problems. However, it may cause skin irritation, itchiness and bleeding if caught onto clothing or jewellery. Many individuals find it unsightly and prefer it removed especially on visible areas such as the face.

In rare circumstances, the eruptions of hundreds of seborrhoeic keratoses may be suspicious of an underlying tumour.

Treatment of Seborrhoeic Keratosis

As seborrhoeic keratoses are benign and harmless, most can be safely left alone.

For individuals who wish for it to be removed for cosmetic reasons, or the irritation that it causes, a variety of treatment methods for removal are to be considered.

These include:

  • shave excision
  • electrosurgery
  • liquid nitrogen
  • laser surgery

Laser Seborrhoeic Keratosis Removal

laser seborrhoeic keratoses removal singapore

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser removal is an effective treatment to remove seborrhoeic keratoses in cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face. 

Treatment is done under topical and local anaesthesia. 

Laser surgery is associated with faster healing times and minimal scarring . Regardless of the treatment modality, there may be permanent changes in the skin in terms of colour but this usually fades over time. Seborrhoeic keratoses may still recur even after removal.

From experience, Dr Ng recommends removal of larger lesions that may be causing physical discomfort or skin irritation first. In cases where the lesion is suspicious, we may send the lesion for histology to confirm the diagnosis.

 

Treatment is done using topical or local anaesthesia for your comfort. The removal is virtually painless.

You would need to keep your wound clean and regular dressings if your seborrhoeic keratoses is especially large. A topical antibiotic is prescribed to reduce the risk of infection.

Regardless of the treatment modality, they can recur even on the previously treated area. Multiple treatments may be needed to achieve better clearance and results.

As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection, bleeding, scarring, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation and scarring. However, theses risks are lower with laser-assisted seborrhoeic keratoses removal.

The cost of the seborrhoeic keratoses removal is from $350 onwards.

schedule a consultation for seborrheoic keratosis removal in singapore

Seborrhoeic keratoses are harmless growths on the skin. They are more common as you grow older and may be linked to sun exposure. Seborrhoeic keratosis removal surgery considerations include the number of lesions, size, location and your existing skin condition. Dr.Ng offers a personalised treatment plan that is unique to your condition. Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr.Ng today.

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More Information
Related Information:
References:
  1. Jackson JM, Alexis A, Berman B, et al.: Current Understanding of Seborrheic Keratosis: Prevalence, Etiology, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(10):1119–25
  2. Gurel MS, Aral BB: Effectiveness of erbium:YAG laser and cryosurgery in seborrheic keratoses: Randomized, prospective intraindividual comparison study. J Dermatolog Treat. 2015;26(5):477–80. 10.3109/09546634.2015.1024597
  3.  Sayan A, Sindel A, Ethunandan M, et al.: Management of seborrhoeic keratosis and actinic keratosis with an erbium:YAG laser-experience with 547 patients. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019;48(7):902–7. 10.1016/j.ijom.2018.08.008