This article looks at seborrheic keratoses, what they are, and how they are diagnosed and treated.

What Are Skin Barnacles?

Seborrheic keratoses are harmless, noncancerous growths that usually appear during adulthood.

Seborrheic keratosis

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The number of growths typically increases as you age.

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The precise cause of seborrheic keratosis remains unknown.

seborrheic keratosis

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Summary

Seborrheic keratoses are also called “skin barnacles.”

They tend to form during adulthood and are typically brown in color with a “stuck-on” appearance.

These lesions are usually harmless, but you may want to have them removed for aesthetic reasons.

viral warts on hand

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These are benign lesions, thought to be genetically related, that may be related to sun exposure.

Rarely skin cancers can arise on them.

There are many methods of removing them from freezing to laser ablation.

actinic keratosis

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