INTRODUCTION
Seborrheic keratoses (SKs) are some of the most common benign dermatologic lesions seen by dermatologists in everyday practice,1,2 affecting approximately 84 million individuals in the United States.1-3 SK lesions typically present as sharply demarcated papules or plaques that appear stuck on the surface of the skin. These lesions generally range in color from light tan to dark brown and usually have a raised surface with a rough texture.1,2,4 SKs can occur anywhere on the body except the palms and soles, but most commonly occur on the face, neck, and trunk.1,2
SKs are benign lesions but are often cosmetically bothersome to patients, and individuals are more frequently seeking treatment for non-symptomatic SKs in order to have a more youthful appearance and better quality of life.5 In a recent observational study conducted across 10 dermatology practices in the United States, 61% of patients with non-symptomatic SKs reported having taken actions to disguise their lesions and 53% of patients reported having non-symptomatic SKs removed because they did not like their appearance.2 Additionally and expectedly, skin appearance after SK treatment may be an important factor in a patient’s decision to seek treatment. When patients were shown before and after treatment photos for SKs and were then asked how interested they would be in a treatment that gave them similar results, 86% expressed interest in pursuing such an option.2
Current treatment options for raised SKs are typically surgical or ablative, and include liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, shave removal, curettage, chemical peels, and laser treatments.2 However, surgical and ablative therapies can be invasive and may result in adverse effects such as local edema and crusting, infection, scarring, recurrence, and pigmentary changes.1 Among individuals who chose not to treat their SKs, the risks of several of these effects, especially scarring and pigmentary changes, have been reported as reasons they avoided treatment.2
SKs are benign lesions but are often cosmetically bothersome to patients, and individuals are more frequently seeking treatment for non-symptomatic SKs in order to have a more youthful appearance and better quality of life.5 In a recent observational study conducted across 10 dermatology practices in the United States, 61% of patients with non-symptomatic SKs reported having taken actions to disguise their lesions and 53% of patients reported having non-symptomatic SKs removed because they did not like their appearance.2 Additionally and expectedly, skin appearance after SK treatment may be an important factor in a patient’s decision to seek treatment. When patients were shown before and after treatment photos for SKs and were then asked how interested they would be in a treatment that gave them similar results, 86% expressed interest in pursuing such an option.2
Current treatment options for raised SKs are typically surgical or ablative, and include liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, shave removal, curettage, chemical peels, and laser treatments.2 However, surgical and ablative therapies can be invasive and may result in adverse effects such as local edema and crusting, infection, scarring, recurrence, and pigmentary changes.1 Among individuals who chose not to treat their SKs, the risks of several of these effects, especially scarring and pigmentary changes, have been reported as reasons they avoided treatment.2
