Seborrheic Keratosis: How Large Will They Grow?

Many people have had Seborrheic Keratosis at some point in their lives. It is a popular skin disorder involving growth of skin cells on the top layer of the skin. The skin condition usually affects both children and adults. These skin cells either appear in clusters or as single spots.

Medical professionals suggest SKs appear above the skin in different sizes. They range from very small to more than two and half centimeters in diameter. Sometimes they appear like very small white or black circles within the skin growth itself. When large they appear dark or brown in color.

To sum up, the waxy growths appear raised on the skin or grow in a flat manner on the face, back and the chest. They can accumulate on other parts of the body but these are the common ones.

Seborrheic Keratosis outgrowths are known to mostly occur on individuals around their thirties and increase growth numbers and size with age. Having large, irregular or spherical shaped growths brings about a lot of embarrassment to the beholders and lowers their self esteem.

At first the Seborrheic Keratosis begins as a single spot then grows from small rough bumps and gradually thickens as well as spreading broadly on the skin and eventually growing on extended part of your body if not treated. Apart from aged individuals, the occurrence of lesions among the pregnant mothers and clients under medication is common. They mostly grow on the facial area and under the breast. .

Unlike small oval spots at the beginning, well matured growth of about an inch across appear- like warm brown candle wax or dirt stuck on the skin. It has no association with the inner skin making it appear like it can be easily be detached from the skin by plucking from the top layer of the skin.

Please note that not all SKs grow with large rough surfaces. Some are smooth and have tiny bumps that look like pawpaw seeds. They are well known as horny pearls due to their circular pattern. They are easily visible because of their difference of appearances with the surrounding.

SKs may also grow larger looking like warts. With time they develop course textures which comprise of deep pits and long deep cracks and at the same time growing 8 to 10 millimeters than it should be.

Therefore, Seborrheic keratosis usually appear first as small, white hard bumps and gradually develop into large concentrated clusters of outgrowths. This is however, not the case in all people, since there are some instances where SKs disappear almost immediately after appearing. It is also not advisable to let them fully develop, but rather to have them removed as soon as possible.

Cost Of Treating Liver Spots

Skin blemishes can be a nuisance to your appearance if they appear in areas noticeable to others. Liver spots aka solar lentigo, are one such skin blemish. Light brown, red or black and measures 1/8 of an inch to 1 inch in diameter. These liver spots, though painless, may be costly to remove or can be treated with over the counter medicine.

Liver spots are mainly caused by the over exposure of the skin to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. This proves even more hazardous if a sunscreen is not used. Therefore the best way to avoid getting the blemishes is to take precaution or lessen the amount of time spent in the sun.

Over the counter medicines such as skin bleaching agents are inexpensive. For the average person this may be an excellent solution. Because of the low price, when the product is finished, the consumer is able to buy more. Although over time the cost may be higher, it is still beneficial to the consumer. They would not have had the upfront money to consider a more permanent solution.

Severe liver spots may need stronger medicines which can only be obtained through a prescription. The cost of this would be higher than that of the over the counter drug because the consumer would then have to see a doctor or a dermatologist.

Still, there are other solutions which might be more permanent. Laser therapy destroys the melanin cells which causes the dark pigmentation of the liver spots. Laser treatments can cost a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Patients undergoing the treatment may not see the results until after a few months.

Electrosurgery is commonly used by dermatologist and plastic surgeons because of its precision to cut and limited blood loss. It is uses a high frequency electric current to cut or coagulate. Cost of this treatment is dependent on the size of the spot and may range from $200 to $500.

Dermabrasion as the word suggests, is the scraping of the skin. Even the thought of having someone scraping or sanding your face brings pain. The recovery period then, may be a few months as the new skin would take time to grow over the affected area. Treatment ranges from $1000 to $3000.

The cost of a chemical peel to remove liver spots will range from a few hundred dollars to as much as $5000. It just depends on if you are getting a superficial, medium or a deep peel. It involves using a chemical solution to smooth the texture of the skin by removing the affected outer layer.

We live in a world where image is everything. So, whatever treatment works for you and your pocket, the results can only be worth it.

Seborrheic Keratosis: Cost Of Treatment

Interestingly, Seborrheic Keratosis is not disastrous to your health. Many people just let the skin growths to disappear gradually on their own but if doubt arises, seeking medical treatments is equally a good idea. The medical attention immensely depends on the nature of the skin condition and your budget.

The cost for the treatment depends on the size of the Seborrheic Keratosis. People with tiny spots will pay very little compared to those with bigger and clustered outgrowths. In addition, the skin condition is tax deductible like dental or optical bills thus the prices incurred are reasonable. This charging applies to any part of your body which is manifested by skin disorders whether scalp, neck, facial area, and so forth.

Seborrheic Keratosis usually develops on the top layer of skin and not on the dermis layer of skin. The dermatologists can therefore easily pick them off using specialized scrapping tools. On being treated, the healed portion of the body stays pink for a short while, but two weeks are enough to heal.

Freezing the skin growths with liquid nitrogen is another ideal approach to cure Seborrheic Keratosis. Many people have successfully curbed hundreds of skin growths by just using the cheap freezing method. This method is very effective and can clear all the Seborrheic Keratosis within a short while.

Low fat and low sugary foods are affordable to everyone who has desire for healthy lifestyle not to mention the benefits of the diet to healing skin disorders. Buying inexpensive spinach and other leafy vegetables will do you miracles. The body will generate strong immune against Seborrheic Keratosis by just spending less on a perfect diet.

Hygiene also provides the cheapest treatment that can be secured by everyone regardless of economic status. Rich and poor people can have proper hygiene without having to pay for anything. Maintaining hygiene is essential to eradicating oily skin that is untidy. Therefore one should pay much attention to the body hygiene. This means doing things like cleaning the infected parts with disinfectant soaps.

The way one goes about in removing seborrheic keratosis is the determining factor in the final cost of the treatment. One should focus in buying the most effective medicines at the most reasonable prices. This is by avoiding overpriced pharmacies and going to the cheap ones that offer the same medicines and almost the same services.

Some seborrheic keratosis may be very itchy or painful and it is therefore never advisable for one to only rely on home treatment as opposed to seeing a dermatologist. The latter may be a bit expensive, but it is worth it because one gets to receive professional care.

Are Age Spots Covered By Health Insurance?

Are Age Spots Covered By Health Insurance? Age spots or liver spots or sun spots or sun damage are a type of skin disease cause by a long term exposure of the skin to the sun. It is commonly seen in adults in their 40’s because the melanin production of the body reduces as you age. Light skinned people have a higher tendency of getting age spots than dark skinned people as fair skinned people produce lesser melanin pigments which is responsible for the color of the skin. Age spots are not harmful or painful so there is really no cause for alarm! It is not only caused by old age but also by wrong use of cosmetics and staying out in the sun for too long therefore age spots is not only peculiar to old people but young people too. They are flat and small in shape, black, brown or dark red in color, can be seen on the back of the hands, forearms, legs, neck, shoulders, face, chest and even on the head.

There are many ways to remove age spots as they are not permanent. Starting from an every day home treatment like using honey and yoghurt, Aloe Vera juice, mixing vinegar with onions juice, applying lemon juice which has a lightening ingredients in it; to using creams and lotions, there are several fade or bleaching creams available to lighten age spots, you have to ensure that you are using the right cream for your skin type so that you do not cause more damage to an already damaged skin, and to undergoing a surgery which is usually rare in most cases as age spots are not harmful. Protecting yourself and preventing age spots from occurring by wearing clothes that cover your body, wearing hats and sunglasses when going outside, eating a balanced diet on a regular basis, taking fruits and vitamins or its supplements is better than curing it. Daily use and application of sunscreen lotions can help to prevent age spots. An effective sunscreen is usually measured by sun protection factor which usually rates from 15 – 50, just like fade creams, there are equally different types of sunscreens, they come in different packaging, it can be in form of body lotion or cream, gel, oil or even spray.

Age spots are caused by aging, too much sun on the skin, poor diet, wrong use of cosmetics, etc, it is not covered by your health insurance however if treated and symptoms and sighs still persists please go see a skin doctor who will examine it, advice and guide you. Your dermatologist can also tell you how to go about getting your health insurance to cover age spots treatment if it is necessary.

Natural Liver Spot Treatments

Most of the people would rather go for natural forms of liver spot treatments in order to get rid of liver spots, but are they effective? These spots are often refereed to as the age spots and mainly affect those over fifty five years of age. The age spots should not worry one as they are not cancerous. However, the thought of having these spots in certain parts of your body can be rather uncomfortable since they are not pleasing to look at. The liver spots surface on the outer layer of the skin and the sizes will vary. Some are tiny while others can even grow to be as big as 5cm in size. They are mainly caused by excessive exposure to the sun which is harmful to the skin as the production of melanin is gravely affected which results to an accumulation of the pigment that results to swellings and spots.

Natural liver spot treatments are available though there are notably very few herbs that are able to treat the condition effectively. The Chinese have got natural forms of remedies that can be used to teat the condition. These products have been tried and tested and consequently proved to be very effective. Most of the natural remedies are actually acidic in nature. They include lemons, oranges and the like.

The reality is that the development of natural liver spot treatments has not really been worked on. It is vital to take good care of your diet and consume foods from healthy plants. The juice of the acidic type of fruit can be applied directly to the spots on a daily basis. The juice extracted from papaya, lemon, cranberry can be applied directly on these patches on a regular basis. Some of the natural products that are available in the market contain essential minerals such as Vitamin C and A which have been known to fade of the spots very gradually. The herbs that are effective on the age spots rarely contain these vital minerals which make the natural cream much better.

The most recommended from of natural liver spot treatments is sun protection. You can purchase a sunscreen which will play a bog role in offering you with the protection that you require. For those who do not make any effort to take precautionary measures then the natural forms of treatment may also not be effective. Seek the advice of an expert for the best treatment options. Consistency has to be maintained so as to get any notable results from the use of the natural liver spot treatments.

Age Spots & Skin Cancer

Age Spots & Skin Cancer Age spots, which can also be called liver spots is a type of skin disease caused by excess exposure of the body to sunlight. It is commonly found in adults in their 40’s and above, and it can be found on the back of the hands, neck, forearms, legs and face; it is usually brown or red in color and most times they could be seen as skin cancer especially if it is not treated well. Cancer can be defined as the growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer is not only peculiar to human beings; other living things too like animals can get cancer. It is usually identified by the name of the tissue which the abnormal cell is from; the abnormal cells can also be called tumor cells. Approximately, it is said that over 700 thousand new cancers occur every year and that at least half of every adult of 65 years and above develop cancer. While age spots are harmless and painless skin diseases that are often seen in older adults, skin cancer is a dangerous and deadly skin disease, which causes pain and itching. Age spots are easily treated with lighting creams but skin cancer is treated with surgery. Sometimes, age spots & skin cancer may look alike so for better diagnosis, it is advised that any one with an age spot and suspects skin cancer should see a doctor.

There are three different kinds of skin cancer; they are Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is usually seen as an age spot, caused by a long-term exposure to sunlight, mostly seen on the head, shoulders and neck. It is often mistaken for a sore that does not heal because there might be frequent bleeding at the center of the tumor. Basal cell carcinoma is actually the least deadly type of skin cancer and if treated properly, it will be permanently cured. The second one is Squamous cell carcinoma also known as SCC is a red thick patch on the sunlight exposed skin. Like Basal cell carcinoma, bleeding may also occur in SCC and if it is not properly treated, it may grow into a very large tumor. SCC is more deadly than the first one but not as deadly as the last type of skin cancer which is Melanomas. Melanomas is the most dangerous and deadly type of skin cancer. Itching, bleeding, change in color; shape and size are the signs of melanomas skin cancer.

Even though age spots are not dangerous and harmful, people with age spots have a higher risk of getting skin cancer because skin cancer is usually formed from an existing skin growth or disease.

Seborrheic Keratosis On The Scalp

Seborrheic Keratosis is a non-cancerous raised skin growth on the top layer of the skin that is not contagious at all. They exist in a variety of types; these include the keratoses that grow on the head skin under the hair.

What causes Seborrheic Keratosis on the scalp?

There are many causes that lead to growth of skin tumors of the scalp. To begin with, over exposure to the sun is the major cause. However, many people think that a little bit exposure to the sun may cause this condition. This is not true because or the small, rough, oval or flat growths to appear on the head, one has to be exposed to the ultra violet rays of the sun for long.

Symptoms of Seborrheic Keratosis on the scalp

First, there is appearance of a single spot which develops to clusters as you age. You feel like you are wearing a sand paper when you touch your head. A surprising thing about these small bumps is that on their first occurrences they seem to come and go unnoticed. They look white, brown or even black in color. After some time they develop into crusts under the hair and cause itchy feelings. They can lead to irritation when they rub against your hat or even when your sporting gear rubs against them. When combing your hair, bleeding may also occur as a result of the comb or styling equipments’ accidental rub on them.

The appropriate treatment for Seborrheic Keratosis on the scalp

Health care professionals suggest that it is recommendable to treat SKs during first appearances since the number of lesions increase as you age. They commence at early age, usually thirties and on arrival of old age the skin tumors aappear in patterns.

There are numerous approaches of overcoming Seborrheic Keratosis on the scalp. The most eminent treatment is freezing or cryotheraphy. The treatment entails spraying of the liquid nitrogen on the keratosis. Within few hours, a blister will emerge with scab like crust appearance exposing SKs. In two weeks or less, the skin growth falls off leaving a small or light scar which fades much later.

Another option you can rely to combat this type of SKs on the scalp is by wearing sunscreens while outdoor and preventing tanning booths. It’s inexpensive to buy yourself sunscreens and guarantee yourself maximum protection from actinic keratosis.

The other treatment is scraping off the SKs on the scalp using lasers instead of waiting to see if the skin tumors to disappear themselves.

Seborrheic keratosis on the scalp affects both male and female individuals. One should not only wash the dandruffs but seek medication from health care professionals.

How To Prevent Liver Spots

Liver spots are black, red or brown painless unsightly blemishes that appear on the surface of the skin. These spots are not cancerous and do not lead to cancer unless in very advanced stages. Liver spots are basically harmless and painless and are no cause for alarm. They are known to affect areas that are more exposed to the sun like the hands, forehead, face and arms. Liver spots are also known as sun spots or age spots.

Liver spots can be easily prevented. There are various causes of liver spots and once you understand that, then you will be in a good position of knowing how best to prevent them. Age spots can be inherited. This simply means that they are hereditary. If your family has a history of age spots, then you are very likely to have them. In such a case, you can do nothing to prevent them as they are in your genes.

Liver spots are caused by excess exposure to the sun and therefore, you should strive to avoid the sun as much as possible. Avoid going out in the sun between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm as the sun is at its peak. The UV light at this time is at its strongest so you should avoid exposing yourself at this time to prevent liver spots occurrences.

Sun spots are more likely to occur because of the sun’s rays. You should ensure that you are on sunscreen every time you are out in the sun. Sunscreen shields the skin from the harmful UV light. It is also important to note that you should use sunscreen of the right factor most preferably a minimum SPF of 15.

Food plays a major role in development of a healthy skin. When you take unhealthy foods, you risk having a bad skin and poor health. To prevent liver spots, ensure that you take plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods with anti-oxidants help in preventing liver spots.

Age spots can also be avoided by ensuring that your liver is functioning well. it clears toxins and if it is in a bad shape then liver spots are likely too occur as the toxins will come out that way.

As you have seen, liver spots are easy to prevent. If you follow the advice above, be assured of avoiding the avoidable causes of brown spots and you will be safe.

Age Spots & Melanoma

Age Spots & Melanoma Age spots are different from melanoma, although some melanoma comes as a result of age spots. While age spots, also known as liver spots, (it has nothing to do with the liver) are gotten from too much exposure of the skin to sunlight; melanoma is the most deadly and dangerous type of skin cancer that forms from the skin pigment the gives the skin it’s color called melanin. Some melanoma develops on the top layer of the skin and then spreads deep to the other cells of the body and some others starts to develop in the deeper layer of the skin. Since it develops from inside the skin, this type of melanoma is more dangerous as it spreads faster to other cells of the body. Melanoma is more paramount in men than women, but women are not completely exempted as melanoma has been linked to breast cancer and women, more than men, are mostly the victims of breast cancer. Melanoma is common in fair skinned people than dark skinned people as dark skin people produce more melanin than fair skinned people.

There are four types of melanoma; one is the Superficial Spreading Melanoma, which is the most common type of melanoma, another is Acral Lentiginous Melanoma, which is mostly common in dark skinned people, Lentigo Maligna melanoma is another type of melanoma and it is mostly occurs in area where there is age spot due to long exposure to sunlight, and finally Nodula Melanoma, it is mostly common in males and can occur in any part of the body.

More than 2 million cases of skin cancers are diagnosed every year and over 60,000 are melanoma cases and most of skin cancer deaths are melanoma. Sometimes it begins as an age spot and other times it can develop on any part of the body where there is no existing age spot. While age spots are usually small and flat, melanoma is usually big and it can change in size. Melanoma skin cancer can grow and spread into other cells of the body but age spot only remains on the surface and does not grow.

Age spots can be removed and melanoma is actually treatable and curable if detected on time. The thought of having melanoma skin cancer is quiet scary so if you think you may be having melanoma, see a doctor as it can be cured if it is detected early enough.

Seborrheic Keratosis & Curettage

Seborrheic Keratosis is a type of outgrowth that occurs on the skin mostly in people aged above forty. These types of outgrowths are not cancerous although they can be itchy, painful and and are classed as more of a cosmetic problem than a medical one.

Seborrheic Keratosis or SKs are usually unpleasant and are usually a source of embarrassment especially when they appear in the most prominent body parts like the face and the arms. This, along with the fact that some could develop cancerous, means that they should be gotten rid off as soon as possible.

How are they removed? There are many ways to get rid of seborrheic keratosis. Some of these methods are inexpensive and can be easily implemented at home. Others are a bit complicated and require one to consult a dermatologist to have them carried out. The latter option is the best because a dermatologist is usually in the best position to advise a patient after carrying out the relevant tests on the outgrowths.

Two of the most effective methods of getting rid of keratoses are cryotherapy and curettage. Cryotherapy involves the use of liquid Nitrogen to freeze the cells within the SKs and kill them.

Curettage is much simpler because it just involves scraping of the SKs. This method can therefore be comfortably carried out at home.

To carry it out, one requires a curette, which is a spoon shaped instrument that is used to scrape off the SKs. Please note that this procedure is painful and it is therefore advisable that the skin around the SKs numbed before starting out the procedure. This is done by rubbing ice cubes on that particular area for a couple of minutes before starting out on the scraping.

The actual scraping off of the SKs is not easy because it is usually very painful and one may bleed. This means that there is a scar left on the skin after removing SKs from the skin. A fibrous scar called a keloid may develop. This keloid is usually itchy and enlarges over time. That means that they bring the need of having to remove them for cosmetic reasons.

To prevent a keloid from developing, one is encouraged to consider consulting a dermatologist for the curettage procedure. They are well equipped to handle such outgrowths and it would take a much shorter time to get rid of them. Apart from this, dermatologists usually have good anesthesia that would greatly suppress the pain.

The biggest advantage in consulting a dermatologist for curettage is the fact that it is combined with electrocautery to ensure that the SKs and keloids do not appear again. Hence, a patient is advised to seriously consider consulting a dermatologist before removing the SKs via curettage.