There are two styles of seborrheic keratosis treatment. The first is to do nothing and leave the skin growths alone. In most cases, especially if the growths are not in a visible location (such as on the face), this is perfectly fine.
The second style is to have them removed, whether for cosmetic reasons or because they itch, bleed or become irritated by clothing. This can be done in a doctor’s office or with several seborrheic keratosis home treatment products that are available online.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at these two styles of seborrheic keratosis treatment.
So you’ve heard about two ways to treat seborrheic keratosis. You’re wondering if they’re the same, or if they’re different. This blog will help you sort it out and make a decision (by: Dr. Amy Copeland).
There are two styles of treatment for seborrheic keratosis. The first is to freeze them off with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery). This is a very common way to treat skin problems, and it’s certainly effective for some things. But when it comes to treating SKs, I’m not a fan.
The other style of treatment is to simply remove the growths surgically by cutting them out (excision) or burning them off with an electric needle (curettage). These two methods have been used for decades and unlike cryosurgery, don’t require expensive equipment; any doctor who can use a scalpel or curette can use these techniques.
This blog will help you decide which method of treatment is best for you.
Seborrheic keratoses, or SKs, are a form of skin growth that is very common. These are benign (not cancerous) growths that can appear anywhere on the body, but most often appear on the face, chest and back. They come in shades of brown, from light tan to black and often take on a waxy texture.
There are two styles of treatment for SKs: cryotherapy (freezing) and shaving. Both treatments work well for seborrheic keratosis removal. However, there are differences in the two methods that may help you decide between them:
Cryotherapy is an office procedure where your doctor will apply liquid nitrogen to each SK with a cotton swab. This technique causes a burning sensation as the liquid nitrogen freezes each seborrheic keratosis lesion. The whole process takes 5-10 minutes, depending on how many lesions you have treated. After treatment, these lesions will darken and fall off within 2 weeks. The freezing method is most effective for smaller seborrheic keratosis lesions.
Your doctor will use a scalpel to shave off your seborrheic keratosis lesion(s). This method tends to be more effective
There are two types of seborrheic keratosis treatment. One type involves using a chemical peel or freezing the skin with liquid nitrogen. The other type involves surgery to remove the growth. Here is some information about each treatment method, including how they are used and potential side effects:
Freezing With Liquid Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen freezes the tissue in the growth so that it can be removed with little or no bleeding, and it may also cause blistering and crusting of the affected area. The freezed area will become scabbed over and eventually fall off on its own. There is little risk of scarring, but you should consult a dermatologist before undergoing this procedure if you have a history of keloids or hypertrophic scars.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are used to apply chemicals to the skin to remove its outer layers and eliminate any abnormal growths on the skin caused by seborrheic keratosis. This procedure may also be called “Chemablation” and is done by applying a chemical solution to the affected area that causes a blister to form under the growth, which can then be removed easily after it dries. There is little risk of scarring, but you should consult a dermatologist before
Seborrheic keratosis (SK) treatment is a procedure performed when a seborrheic keratosis grows in an undesirable location or becomes irritated. This is a common skin condition that many people have at some point in their life and it is not a cause for concern. However, treatment may be necessary if they become bothersome or painful. In these cases, there are two types of treatment that can be used to remove the lesions: cryosurgery and curettage.
Cryosurgery is the most common method used in seborrheic keratosis treatment because it is quick and painless. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the lesion, causing it to freeze, turn white and then fall off in about one week. Curettage involves scraping the lesion off with a sharp instrument called a curette; this procedure is more invasive than cryosurgery but will likely not require stitches.
Seborrheic keratosis is a very common skin growth that is non-cancerous. Most people will get them at some point in their life, and they’re typically nothing to worry about. They can, however, become unsightly, so many people choose to have them removed.
Treatments for seborrheic keratosis vary in aggressiveness and associated cost. The most aggressive treatment is removal via scraping or freezing. This is a surgical procedure that can be uncomfortable, but the results are permanent. If you can handle a bit of discomfort then this is likely the best option for your wallet and your confidence.
A less expensive option is to mask the appearance of the growth with makeup or bandages. This won’t remove it permanently, so you’ll have to reapply makeup or bandages every time you want to hide it. But this is still significantly less expensive than a surgery.
The most effective way to treat seborrheic keratosis is by using the freezing technique. Using liquid nitrogen, dermatologists freeze the warts off. This treatment is very effective but can be painful for some people. The use of liquid nitrogen on the skin may cause some pain and discomfort for a few days after the treatment.
Another method of getting rid of seborrheic keratosis is through electrocautery or electric current. Using a hot wire, doctors will burn seborrheic keratosis off the skin. This is another painful procedure and requires caution when performing it.
A less painful but less effective method of removing seborrheic keratosis is by applying chemical peels to the wart area. A chemical peel is a topical cream that chemically burns away the wart. This is a very slow process and may take several months before complete removal takes place.