Seborrhoeic Keratosis Removal at Glasgow Skin Specialists
What Are Seborrhoeic Keratoses?
Seborrhoeic keratoses are very common wart-like spots that appear as we age. They can be very numerous in a single patient. They appear as scaly-like spots, that can seem ‘stuck on’ to the skin. Some are the same colour as your skin, and others may be brown or tan (pigmented). They are harmless and carry no risk to your health, but can be itchy, chafe against clothing, and in some cases become red and inflamed. Occasionally, seborrhoeic keratoses can be difficult to tell apart from some forms of skin cancer, but seborrhoeic keratoses are not pre-cancerous lesions.
Seborrhoeic Keratosis Removal
What to expect:
1 / Consultation
When you attend for your consultation, you will be seen by a specialist dermatologist or plastic surgeon, who will take a short medical history from you and some photographs of the lesion for your medical records. They will discuss with you your options for treatment, which will usually be a straightforward seborrhoeic keratosis removal operation under local anaesthetic. Following this discussion, if you are happy to proceed, you will be offered a further appointment to return for your surgery. In some cases, if you have a small number of seborrhoeic keratoses to be removed, you may be offered treatment at the time of your consultation, although this will be time dependent.
2 / Surgical Procedure
The seborrhoeic keratosis removal operation is carried out under local anaesthetic. These are skin-numbing injections, similar to that used at a dentist. Once the skin is numbed, a seborrhoeic keratosis can be shaved off at the base, leaving a graze-like wound that heals over naturally in a week or two. You will be left with a pinky-purple patch of skin, that will usually fade away over a few months, although in some cases you may develop a small scar. Seborrhoeic keratosis removal will take about 20-30 minutes, but obviously depends on the number you want to be removed.
3 / Postoperative Care
Following your surgery, you will be given some aftercare information and offered a follow-up appointment free of charge, to ensure your wounds have healed satisfactorily and to take some post-operative photographs.