Hi,
Seborrheic Keratosis is one of the most common noncancerous skin growths in older adults. The exact cause is unknown. They tend to run in the family, so inheritance may play a role.
There are a few methods for removing seborrheic keratosis. They include electrocautery, cryotherapy and ablative lasers e.g. CO2 laser. CO2 laser ablation of seborrheic keratosis is the method I use as it offers the most precision and control when removing the lesion. This allows for the entire lesion to be removed in a single session(usually) and minimizes risk of scarring and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
For CO2 ablation , topical anesthetic is used to numb the area before the procedure. For larger lesions or for patients less tolerant of pain, injection of local anesthetic can be given. Procedure itself generally takes 5-10minutes, depending on size of the lesion.
Post procedure, the seborrhic keratosis will be gone. In its place, there will be a patch of reddish skin similar in size to the original lesion. There will be a light brown mark that may take many weeks to fade away. It is important to use sunblock and avoid sun exposure to prevent PIH.
Hope this helps!
Best regards,
Dr. Soh
