Seborrheic keratoses are common, harmless, wart-like growths. They usually begin to appear in the 30s and 40s, and increase in number with advancing age. The individual lesions may grow slowly in size and thickness. They frequently look as though they were stuck on to the surface of the skin. They occur most frequently on the trunk, face, and under the breasts, but they can appear anywhere on the skin. Some people have only a few of these growths, while others may have several dozen.

The cause of the seborrheic keratoses is not known. Many people have relatives with them and some people have spent a lot of time in the sun.

Seborrheic keratoses do not tend to go away by themselves. Because they are completely harmless and do not change into skin cancer, treatment is not medically necessary. If you want to have them removed because you do not like the way they look or feel, you can have them removed – for a fee – at the Cosmetic Services Department. Please contact them for an appointment.