A benign proliferation of keratinocytes with a characteristically stuck-on appearance, as though it could be lifted off with a fingernail.
Book an assessment →Seborrhoeic keratoses are harmless, stuck-on growths that become more common after 40. They are not precancerous, but some look like other lesions, so each one is checked with a dermatoscope first. Removal is usually done in one visit under local anaesthetic using CO2 laser, fine electrocautery or freezing, chosen by size, site and skin type.
Waxy, warty, sharply demarcated plaques ranging from tan to near-black. They sit above the plane of the skin rather than within it, which accounts for the stuck-on look.
Frequently mistaken for a mole because of the colour, and for a wart because of the texture. It is neither — and pigmented examples can mimic more serious lesions, which is why it is examined rather than assumed.
Border definition, surface character, colour variation, and whether the lesion has changed. Dermoscopy is used where the picture is not clear-cut.
Superficial removal is generally straightforward because the lesion sits above the basement membrane. Settings are adjusted for Fitzpatrick type to limit post-inflammatory pigmentation.
A sudden eruption of many lesions, or any lesion that is changing, is evaluated before cosmetic removal.
Each growth is looked at under a dermatoscope, which shows features that the naked eye cannot, such as the small keratin cysts and comedo-like openings typical of a seborrhoeic keratosis. The growth is also compared with the person's other spots, because the one that looks different is the one that gets closer attention.
Once a lesion is confirmed as a seborrhoeic keratosis, the method is chosen by thickness, size, site and skin type. Thin, flat lesions on the face are often treated with fine CO2 laser passes or cautery; thicker lesions may need more than one visit. Settings are kept conservative in darker skin to lower the risk of a dark or pale mark afterwards. If there is any doubt about what a lesion is, it is removed in a way that keeps tissue for testing.
“A seborrhoeic keratosis is harmless, but the dark growth that looks like one is not always one. It is examined first, then removed.”
A benign proliferation of keratinocytes with a characteristically stuck-on appearance, as though it could be lifted off with a fingernail.
Frequently mistaken for a mole because of the colour, and for a wart because of the texture. It is neither — and pigmented examples can mimic more serious lesions, which is why it is examined rather than assumed.
Border definition, surface character, colour variation, and whether the lesion has changed. Dermoscopy is used where the picture is not clear-cut.
A sudden eruption of many lesions, or any lesion that is changing, is evaluated before cosmetic removal.
Over-the-counter creams and scrubs do not reliably remove it, because the growth is a thickened block of skin cells rather than a surface stain. Picking or scraping at home can cause bleeding, infection and marks. In-clinic removal is quicker and more controlled.
Yes. Many people develop dozens over the years, especially on the trunk and face. What is not typical is a sudden eruption of many new lesions over weeks, which is assessed medically rather than treated cosmetically.
Every assessment at IN Eternity Clinic is carried out personally by Medical Director Dr Sin Yong at 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza. If the honest answer is that treatment should wait, you will be told that.
WhatsApp the clinic →Because the growth sits on top of the skin, it can be taken off without going deep. The method is chosen for the lesion and the skin around it:
| Method | Suits | Healing | Notes for Asian skin |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 laser (DEKA SmartXide) | Flat or raised lesions on the face and neck | Pink graze, crust in about a week | Depth controlled layer by layer; temporary darkening possible |
| Electrocautery and curettage | Thicker, warty lesions | Scab for one to two weeks | Quick; small risk of a flat pale or dark mark |
| Cryotherapy (freezing) | Thin lesions on the body | Blister then crust, one to three weeks | Higher risk of white or dark marks, so used selectively |
| Shave removal with laboratory check | Any lesion where the diagnosis is uncertain | Graze, one to two weeks | Tissue is sent for examination |
Over-the-counter freezing kits and acids are not recommended: they cannot confirm what the lesion is and often leave a mark. Several lesions can usually be treated at the same visit.
Most seborrhoeic keratoses look alike on one person. A lesion that looks different from the others — the “ugly duckling” — deserves a closer look. Other reasons to have a growth examined before any cosmetic removal are: it is new and growing quickly, it bleeds without being injured, it has an irregular border or several colours, or it is sore or itchy when the rest are not.
A sudden eruption of many seborrhoeic keratoses over weeks is rare but is a reason for a medical review rather than cosmetic treatment. Under the dermatoscope, typical seborrhoeic keratoses show tiny white cysts and plugged openings; where the picture is not typical, the lesion is sampled and sent to a laboratory. See mole removal and skin growths for related lesions.
Day 0: a small numbing injection, then removal in minutes; the site looks like a shallow pink graze. Days 1–3: keep it clean and covered with a thin layer of ointment. Week 1: a light crust forms and lifts on its own — do not pick it. Weeks 2–4: fresh pink skin that should be protected from sun to lower the risk of darkening. Review: any residual lesion is touched up after the skin has settled.
A treated lesion seldom returns in the same spot, but new seborrhoeic keratoses tend to appear with age, so many people return every year or two for new ones.
No. Seborrhoeic keratosis is a benign growth of surface skin cells and does not turn into cancer. The reason it is checked first is that some pigmented examples look like other lesions, including melanoma or pigmented basal cell carcinoma. A dermatoscope examination at the visit usually settles this; if not, a sample is sent to a laboratory.
A properly removed lesion rarely recurs in the same place, though a thick one may need a small touch-up. The tendency to form them is linked to age, genes and sun, so new ones can appear elsewhere over the years. Many people plan a check every year or two and have new ones treated while they are small.
Small, multiple dark bumps on the cheeks and around the eyes in darker skin are often dermatosis papulosa nigra, a close relative of seborrhoeic keratosis. They are harmless and can be removed with fine cautery or laser using conservative settings. Dr Sin Yong confirms which it is at assessment.
Cost depends on how many lesions are removed, their size and site, the method used and whether a laboratory check is needed. Treating one small lesion differs from treating many across the face and body. The plan and cost are set out after examination, before removal is done.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.