Types Of Keratosis

Keratosis is a skin disorder or tumor that is usually caused by the excessive thickening of keratin, a certain skin protein. While some forms of keratosis are harmless, others are harmful and could be precancerous. Therefore treatment of this skin disorder should be treated with the seriousness that it deserves for the following reasons:

  1. To restore the texture, color and beauty of the individual’s skin color.
  2. To prevent the spots, freckles or tumors from becoming cancerous.
  3. To avoid the embarrassment that is synonymous with most keratotic diseases because the skin blemishes are usually unsightly.
  4. To prevent discomfort such as itching or constant rubbing of the individual’s dress and other direct body attires.

Before selecting any treatment that suits your skin condition, consult your doctor so that he/she determines the kind of keratosis you are suffering from and its causes. This will not only help you to remove it successfully but also prevent future infections and other related complications.


There are three major categories of keratosis:

  1. Keratosis Pilaris

This skin condition is usually characterized by rough blemishes on a person’s skin and is sometimes called follicular keratosis. These bumps are normally red in color and commonly affect an individual’s back or arms. The skin tumor arises from excess thickening of keratin that causes hair follicle to stick in the skin. Despite the fact that this disorder is neither precancerous nor cancerous, the lumps could become unattractive or uncomfortable thus necessitating their removal using laser therapy, phototherapy, lotions, or benzoyl peroxide.

  1. Actinic keratosis

Actinic keratosis has other names such as senile keratosis and solar keratosis. Some people see these names used by different authors and think that they are different skin disorders from actinic keratosis. Actinic lumps are rough and come in various colors on sun exposed parts of the skin such as face, neck, arms, hands and scalp. Despite being painless, they are precancerous and can easily progress into skin cancer unless proper and immediate intervention is sought. The freckles can be removed using laser treatment, liquid nitrogen, electric current or cryosurgery.

  1. seborrheic keratosis

This skin disorder is almost similar to the abovementioned except that seborrheic lumps appear greasy or waxy. The bumps are also painless and noncancerous. The main reason why seb blemishes are detested is due to their unsightly nature as well as their vulnerability to skin inflammation, itching or bleeding. Its treatment is optional.

Seborrheic keratosis

Recent Seborrheic Keratosis Articles:

Senile Keratosis

Seborrheic Keratosis Pictures





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