What is Seborrheic Keratosis?
Seborrheic keratosis (SK), also known as senile warts, senile plaques, and basal cell papilloma, is one of the most common clinical benign skin tumors. It occurs in middle-aged and elderly people and is caused by keratinocyte hyperplasia. Benign hyperplasia. SK occurs on the head, back, and back of hands.
Basic Information
- Also known as
- Senile plaques, senile plaques, senile warts; basal cell papilloma; seborrheic warts
- English name
- seborrheickeratosis
- English alias
- verrucasenilis; basalcellpapilloma
- Visiting department
- dermatology
- Common locations
- Face head, back, back of hand, etc.
- Contagious
- no
Seborrheic keratosis epidemiology
- It has been reported that SK has obvious familial tendencies, and it is speculated that this disease may be an autosomal dominant genetic disease with incomplete penetrance. Although the disease is clinically common, there are few statistical reports on its incidence, gender or ethnicity, and regional distribution. The disease is more common in the Caucasian population, with the same incidence in men and women. The disease is rare in people under 40 years of age.
Causes of seborrheic keratosis
- Sunlight exposure may be related to the occurrence of SK.
Clinical manifestations of seborrheic keratosis
- Most of this disease occurs after the age of 40, and it occurs in the scalp, face, trunk, upper limbs, back of hands, etc., but does not involve the palms and palate. Begins as light brown spotted rash or flat pimples, with smooth or slightly papillomaous surface, increasing with age, increasing in number, 1mm to 1cm in diameter, or several centimeters, with a clear state, papillomas on the surface, and greasy surface, is easy to scrape. Some damage pigmentation can be very significant, showing dark brown or black, the color of old damage is very variable, can be normal skin color, hazel, dark brown or black. The disease can be solitary, but it is usually multiple, with no conscious symptoms and occasional itching. Skin lesions develop slowly with minimal malignancy. There are several special types clinically:
- Irritating seborrheic keratosis
- Occurs in the area of cortical overflow or friction. The skin lesions can be irritated and irritated. The base turns red and the surface is irregularly hyperplastic.
- 2. Eruptive seborrheic keratosis
- It happened suddenly and increased rapidly in the short term. Attention should be paid to the presence of visceral tumors.
- 3. Stucco keratosis
- It mainly occurs in the elderly, and it is common in the lower extremities. The skin lesions are multiple keratotic papules, which are easily peeled off without bleeding.
Histopathology of seborrheic keratosis
- The basic characteristics are outward growth, hyperkeratosis, hypertrophy of spinous layer, papilloma-like hyperplasia, and pseudocorneal cysts. Some damage, most of the black particles in the proliferation of keratinocytes.
Differential diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis
- Some early damages are like flat warts; damage to the exposed area is easy to be confused with solar keratosis; deep pigmented damage needs to be distinguished from melanocyte nevi; inflammation or irritation can be similar to basal cell carcinoma and squamous Cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma can be identified by histopathological examination.
Seborrheic Keratosis Treatment
- The disease generally does not require treatment. For cases where the diagnosis is not clear, skin lesions should be taken for histopathological examination. When treatment is needed for cosmetic reasons, carbon dioxide laser, liquid nitrogen freezing, holmium laser, curettage or surgical resection can be used.