Patient Basics: Seborrheic Keratoses

A seborrheic keratosis is a harmless skin growth that looks like a waxy brown, black or tan spot stuck onto the skin. These growths are very common after age 40, and many people have several or even dozens. They don’t turn into cancer and don’t need treatment, but a doctor can remove one that itches, catches on clothing or bothers you.

Key points

• Seborrheic keratoses (the plural) are among the most common skin growths in older adults.
• They often look like a drop of candle wax or a crumbly scab pressed onto the skin.
• They aren’t contagious and aren’t caused by a virus.
• Some look like melanoma, so have a doctor check any new, changing or unusual spot.
• Freezing or scraping removes them in a few minutes. Avoid removing them at home.

What a seborrheic keratosis looks like

• A round or oval growth, from smaller than a pencil eraser to more than an inch across
• Light tan to dark brown or black, sometimes several shades in one growth
• A waxy, rough or warty surface, often with tiny pits or plugs
• Edges that seem to sit on top of the skin, as if you could peel it off
• Found on the chest, back, belly, face, scalp and neck, but not on the palms or soles

They’re usually painless but can itch, especially when skin is dry. If a growth gets rubbed or scratched, it can become red, swollen, crusted or bleed a little.

Two common types look different:

• Dermatosis papulosa nigra. Many small, smooth, dark bumps on the cheeks, forehead and neck. It’s common in people with dark skin, often starting in young adulthood.
• Stucco keratoses. Small, gray-white, rough spots on the lower legs and tops of the feet of older adults.

What causes seborrheic keratoses

The exact cause isn’t known. They form when skin cells at the surface grow more than usual and build up. They become more common with each decade of life and tend to run in families. Sun exposure may play a part, since many appear on sun-exposed skin, but they also show up on covered skin. Pregnancy and hormone therapy can bring on new ones. Despite the name, they have nothing to do with oil glands or seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff).

Seborrheic keratosis or skin cancer?

A doctor can usually tell what a growth is by looking at it, often with a lighted magnifier called a dermatoscope. If there’s any doubt, they’ll numb the skin and remove some or all of it for a biopsy.

See a doctor if a spot:

• Is new and looks different from your other spots
• Has uneven edges, mixed colors, or is larger than a pencil eraser
• Changes in size, shape or color
• Bleeds, crusts or itches without being injured, or doesn’t heal

Rarely, many new seborrheic keratoses appear suddenly over a few weeks or months. This can be a sign of a cancer inside the body and should be checked.

Seborrheic keratosis removal

Removal is optional. Insurance often doesn’t cover it unless a growth is irritated, bleeding or needs a biopsy. Common methods include:

• Freezing (cryotherapy). Liquid nitrogen is sprayed or dabbed on the growth. It blisters and falls off within a few weeks. It can leave a lighter patch of skin, which is more noticeable on dark skin.
• Scraping (curettage). After numbing, the doctor scrapes off the growth. This is often combined with a small electric current to stop bleeding and treat the base (electrodesiccation).
• Shave removal. A blade slices the growth off level with the skin, and it can be sent for a biopsy.
• Laser treatment for some growths, especially small dark bumps on the face.

Removed growths rarely come back in the same spot, but new ones often appear elsewhere. Don’t cut, pick, burn or freeze them yourself with home kits. This can cause infection and scars, and it can delay finding a skin cancer that only looked like a seborrheic keratosis.

Itch and irritation

Moisturizers help with dryness and itch. A doctor may suggest a mild steroid cream for a red, itchy patch. For growths that rub on bra straps, waistbands or collars, removal is often the simplest fix.

When to see a doctor

• A spot is new, changing, or doesn’t look like your others
• You’re not sure whether a growth is harmless
• A growth bleeds, hurts or stays irritated
• Many new growths appear in a short time
• You’d like one removed

Common questions about seborrheic keratosis

Can a seborrheic keratosis turn into cancer?

No, seborrheic keratoses are noncancerous and don’t become cancer. A skin cancer can occasionally grow next to one or look very similar, though. That’s why a doctor should check any growth that looks different, changes quickly or bleeds without a reason.

Can seborrheic keratoses fall off on their own?

Sometimes. A growth that gets rubbed or scratched may partly break off or crumble. It usually grows back over time because the base is still there. Don’t pick at them, since this can cause bleeding and infection.

Are seborrheic keratoses the same as warts or skin tags?

No. Warts are caused by a virus and can spread. Skin tags are soft, flesh-colored flaps that hang from the skin, often on the neck and in skin folds. Seborrheic keratoses are flat or raised, waxy and usually brown. They’re sometimes called barnacles of aging.

Why do I keep getting more seborrheic keratoses?

Getting new ones is a normal part of aging, especially if they run in your family. Many people find a few new growths each year after middle age. There’s no proven way to prevent them, and removing some doesn’t cause more to grow.

Questions to ask your doctor

• Is this growth a seborrheic keratosis, or should it be biopsied?
• Which spots should I keep an eye on?
• What is the best way to remove this one, and will it leave a mark?
• Will my insurance cover removal?
• How often should I have a skin check?

Learn more

• Seborrhoeic keratosis (DermNet)
• Seborrheic keratosis (MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine)

This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your own doctor. Last updated October 2026.