Definition

Noun: A common, benign (non-cancerous) skin growth that appears as a waxy, scaly, slightly raised lesion. It often looks like it is "stuck on" the skin and can vary in color from light tan to dark brown or black. While the name includes "seborrheic," these growths are not directly related to sebaceous (oil) gland activity.

Usage

This is a medical term used by healthcare professionals (dermatologists, doctors) to describe a specific type of skin growth. It is used in diagnoses, medical records, and patient education. * The dermatologist identified the growth on my back as a seborrheic keratosis. * Seborrheic keratosis is one of the most common noncancerous skin tumors in older adults.

Examples

• "During the skin check, the doctor pointed out several seborrheic keratoses on my chest and back."
• "A seborrheic keratosis is typically harmless, but it can be removed if it becomes irritated or for cosmetic reasons."
• "The appearance of a new, rapidly changing growth should be evaluated by a doctor to rule out melanoma, even though it may look like a seborrheic keratosis."

Advanced Usage

• The plural form is seborrheic keratoses.
• In informal clinical conversation, it is sometimes abbreviated as "SK".
• The term is often used in contrast to other skin lesions, such as actinic keratosis (which is pre-cancerous) or melanoma (a dangerous skin cancer).

Variants and Related Words

• Stucco keratosis: A variant of seborrheic keratosis characterized by multiple small, dry, "stuck-on" papules, often on the lower legs.
• Dermatosis papulosa nigra: A condition involving multiple small, dark, benign papules, often on the face, considered a variant of seborrheic keratosis common in individuals with darker skin tones.
• Lesion: A broad term for any area of damaged or abnormal tissue, under which seborrheic keratosis is categorized.
• Benign: Non-cancerous; a key descriptor for seborrheic keratosis.

Synonyms

• Benign keratosis
• Senile wart (an older, less preferred term)
• Barnacle of aging (a colloquial, descriptive term)

Related Phrases

• "Stuck-on" appearance: A common descriptive phrase for how a seborrheic keratosis looks on the skin.
• Wart-like lesion: A descriptive phrase comparing its texture to a wart.
• Greasy crust: A phrase sometimes used to describe the surface texture.

Noun

1. a skin condition characterized by circumscribed wartlike lesions that can be itchy and covered with a greasy crust