Treatment:

Treatment is usually not required unless the growths become irritated or are unsightly.

If treatment is needed, growths may be removed with surgery or freezing (cryotherapy).

Expectations (prognosis):

Removing the growths is simple and usually does not result in scars. However, growths on the trunk often leave the skin lighter colored.

In rare cases, a person who gets many growths very quickly may have gastric cancer.

Growths usually do not return after they are removed, but people who are prone to this condition may develop more growths in the future.

Complications:

• Irritation, discomfort of growths
• Misdiagnosis (it may be difficult to tell apart from malignant melanoma in some cases)
• Psychological distress from change in appearance

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of seborrheic keratosis.

Also call if you develop new symptoms, including:

• A change in the appearance of the skin growth
• New growths