Seborrheic keratosis is a noncancerous skin condition, so you don’t have to worry about getting cancer if you leave it untreated for a while. However, when it comes to treating them, you can even do it at home! Try some natural remedies for seborrheic keratosis.
About Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis is a skin growth that may resemble warts, moles, and skin cancer; however, it is noncancerous. It is also known by the names seborrheic verruca and senile wart. They appear more and more as people age.
These skin growths have various colors, from black to white; most however are various shades of tan or brown. They are round or oval, flat or slightly elevated, and small or larger. They can be found on almost any part of the body: chest, stomach, back, face, and neck. The only places where they don’t appear are the palms and the soles. They mostly appear more at a time, rarely individually.
The causes aren’t quite clear yet. One certain cause is old age: more and more seem to appear as a person gets older. As they appear on areas that are usually sun-exposed, it was believed that sunlight could be a cause; however, they have been found on skin that hasn’t been exposed to the sun, as well. Stress doesn’t appear to cause seborrheic keratosis, but it can worsen the condition if one already has it. One last cause could be genetic inheritance: if it runs in the family, then you might get it, as well.
Treatment
In many cases, seborrheic keratosis doesn’t require being treated. It can actually disappear on its own. Plus, treatment isn’t considered to be necessary. However, many people choose to have them removed if they grow too big, bleed, become itchy, or are often irritated by clothes and/or jewelry.
There are various possibilities to get rid of seborrheic keratosis medically. Cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen) can work with small growths. Curettage (scraping the skin’s surface) and electrocautery (burning the growth) can be used either individually or together. One last possibility is ablation (removing it with a laser).
Remember however that, after removing the seborrheic keratosis, your skin may appear to be lighter than the rest of your skin. In some cases, this fades with time, but in other cases, this is permanent.
Natural Remedies for Seborrheic Keratosis
You can also try to get rid of seborrheic keratosis by using natural remedies. However, remember that not all might be 100% effective.
Apple cider vinegar is known to be quite effective, which is why it is a popular choice. All you have to do is soak a cotton ball in undiluted apple cider vinegar, press it against the growths, and secure it with a bandage or band-aid. The growth usually falls off after a few days.
You can also use hydrogen peroxide. Applied directly to the skin, it will gradually reduce the growth, until it will completely disappear.
Cool compresses don’t help you get rid of seborrheic keratosis, but they can help ease the irritation and the itchiness. Just soak a compress with cool water, wring it to remove any excess water, and apply the compress to your skin. Repeat this until the symptoms are gone.
Vitamin D is known to improve your skin’s condition and immunity. Because of this, if you’ve got seborrheic keratosis, it’s important to consume foods that are rich in vitamin D. Make sure you eat lots of fish (salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel), dairy products (milk, butter, cheese), eggs, fortified cereals, mushrooms, orange juice, and pork.
Side Effects and Contraindications
There should be no side effects caused by the natural remedies for seborrheic keratosis. However, it’s important to first get a proper diagnosis from your doctor before starting to treat seborrheic keratosis with the help of a natural remedy.
Don’t scratch, rub, or pick at the growths. You’ll only end up irritating them more and, if you break the skin, this might even lead to an infection. Also, clothes and jewelry can worsen and irritate seborrheic keratosis, so be careful.
