A raised, waxy, or slightly rough growth that looks a bit like a stuck-on wart is often a seborrheic keratosis, one of the most common benign skin growths, especially as we get older. It's not dangerous, but because a few other things can look similar, we start with an assessment to confirm what it is before talking about removal.
Seborrheic Keratosis
A seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin growth that forms on the surface of the skin, often appearing raised, waxy, or slightly scaly, and ranging in color from light tan to dark brown or black. They become increasingly common with age, tend to run in families, and can show up anywhere on the body except the palms and soles. They're not related to sun exposure the way many other skin growths are, and they're not contagious or cancerous, though they can sometimes be mistaken for other pigmented lesions, which is exactly why a proper look matters before assuming that's what a spot is.
Why Choose Beacon Dermatology for Seborrheic Keratosis?
Confirming that a growth is truly a seborrheic keratosis, and not something that needs closer attention, is where we start. Our board-certified dermatologists make that call directly and handle removal as a clean, well established procedure once it's confirmed.
Seborrheic Keratosis Treatments at Beacon Dermatology
Because a seborrheic keratosis can resemble other growths, what we recommend is confirmed during an assessment first. Once identified, removal is typically a straightforward in office procedure. This is generally not covered by Alberta Health Care, since it's usually considered a cosmetic procedure rather than a medical necessity.
