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| Alternative Names: | Benign skin tumors - keratosis; Keratosis - seborrheic; Senile keratosis
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| Treatment: | Treatment is usually not required unless the growths become irritated or are cosmetically displeasing.
If treatment is needed, growths may be surgically removed or removed by cryotherapy (freezing).
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| Expectations (prognosis): | Seborrheic keratosis is a benign and usually painless condition. Removal of the growths is simple and usually does not result in scars. However, growths on the trunk often leave lighter-colored skin. Particular growths usually do not recur after removal, but people who are prone to this condition may develop more in the future.
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| Complications: | - psychological distress from change in appearance
- irritation, discomfort of growths
- misdiagnosis (malignant melanoma may be difficult to differentiate in some cases)
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| Calling your health care provider: | Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms suggestive of seborrheic keratosis.
Also call if new symptoms develop, including change in the appearance of the skin growth or development of other lesions.
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Review Date: 1/11/2003
Reviewed By: Glen H. Crawford, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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