(See also Overview of Skin Growths Overview of Skin Growths Cells of the skin and underlying tissue may accumulate and cause growths. Growths may be raised or flat and range in color from dark brown or black to skin-colored to red. They may be present... read more .)
The cause of seborrheic keratoses is unknown. Some people have an inherited tendency to develop seborrheic keratoses. These harmless growths are very common among middle-aged and older people. Some people have many growths. Although these growths can appear anywhere, they most often appear on the torso and the temples. In darker-skinned people, a large number of these growths can occur on the cheekbones (a condition called dermatosis papulosa nigra).
Seborrheic keratoses are round or oval and vary in size from less than ¼ inch (0.5 centimeters) to occasionally several inches. They appear to be stuck on the skin and usually have a warty and waxy or scaly surface. These growths develop slowly. They are not cancerous (malignant) and do not become cancerous. Dark brown keratoses with irregular pigment may sometimes be mistaken for atypical moles Atypical moles Moles are small, usually dark, skin growths that develop from pigment-producing cells in the skin (melanocytes). Most people have some moles, but the tendency to develop atypical moles is sometimes... read more 
or melanomas Melanoma Melanoma is a skin cancer that begins in the pigment-producing cells of the skin (melanocytes). Melanomas can begin on normal skin or in existing moles. They may be irregular, flat or raised... read more 
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Treatment of seborrheic keratoses is not needed unless the keratoses become irritated or itchy or are cosmetically undesirable. They are best removed by freezing them with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) or by using an electric needle (electrodesiccation).
