Seborrheic keratosis

The Seborrheic Keratosis (synonyms: Seborrheic wart, Alterswarze, Senile wart, Basalzellpapillom ) is the most common benign tumor of the skin. Output cells of the skin are keratinocytes proliferation. Seborrheic keratoses usually develop in the second half of life and take in old age continues to increase. Almost all people develop throughout their lives, at least one, usually several Seborrheic keratoses even. Men and women are equally affected in general.

Causes

In the seborrheic keratoses is age-related skin changes. No genetic predisposition plays a role in the formation, external factors such as chemicals, light, or UV radiation on the other hand.

Clinical picture

Most often, the seborrheic keratosis is on the face, upper body, back of the hand and on the front sides of the arms. Seborrheic keratoses have a wide range of variation. You can choose between bright shades of brown to black and have almost every color. Most of them are rather small ( with a diameter of a few millimeters to 1 cm), but can be larger in rare cases. You always have a sharp boundary to the normal skin and grow more or less exophytic ( outward). Their surface is dull, checkered or at an advanced stage rugged. She feels greasy, greasy and tallowy to ( it inspired the naming of seborrheic keratosis ).

Histology

Characteristic of this type of lesion is a papillomatous epithelial usually exophytic (rarely also endophytic ) expression. For large senile warts also adenoid proliferation and hyperkeratotic horn beads show. Furthermore, they have a distinct melanocytic hyperpigmentation.

Differential Diagnosis

Seborrheic warts can be confused with basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

Therapy

Treatment is only necessary if the skin growths are bothersome cosmetically or due to constant mechanical irritation:

  • Ablation with an electrical loop ( cauterization ) or a sharp spoon,
  • Freezing ( cryotherapy) or
  • Laser.

These procedures can only be eligible if the diagnosis is clear. A previous biopsy with histologic examination is desirable.

Special shapes

  • Melanoakanthom
  • Stucco - keratoses
  • Reader Trélat syndrome

Forecast

Seborrheic keratoses are benign tumors that do not degenerate.

Swell

  • Dermatology - Dual row ( ed. Ingrid Moll G Ernst Jung), 5th edition, published in 2003 Thieme Verlag
Basal-cell carcinoma
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