Our Services

Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic keratoses (SK) are sometimes referred to as "warty moles" and are the most common, benign growths found in humans. They typically first appear in young adulthood and steadily increase with age, sometimes resulting in hundreds of lesions in older individuals. Both men and women are equally affected.

Signs & Symptoms

Seborrheic keratosis vary widely appearance with round or oval shapes and wide range of colors from brown to skin-colored. SK sizes can range from 1/8 up to 1 and 1/2 inches in size. The raised lesions often have a "stuck-on" appearance. They usually also exhibit sharp borders, a warty surface, and may appear rough or shiny. Flat SKs have a smoother surface, while lesions in areas like the axilla or groin can appear tag-like. It is very difficult for an untrained individual to distinguish a brown SK from a melanoma, so examination by an expert is recommended for new or changing "brown spots."

Treatment

Lesions confirmed as benign by an expert require no further treatment. SKs are sometimes biopsied when the diagnosis is uncertain. They can be treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy if they are irritated or itchy but medical insurance coverage of this procedure is not always guaranteed and cosmetic fees for treatment may be necessary.

Reference: Barthelmann et al. Seborrheic keratosis. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, 2023. PMID: 36892019

Who We Are

Katherine Hunt, MD, FAAD

Dr. Hunt grew up in Hoover, Alabama and attended Hoover High School. She started her career in business and engineering at the University of Alabama.

As an undergraduate, she gained national attention and was named "USA Today National Academic All-Star" for creating a self-sustaining peer mentoring program which measurably improved students' computer science performance at Alabama.

Her extensive work experience at Huron Consulting Group and GE Healthcare helped her realize that she would be most fulfilled in the field of medicine, helping patients one-on-one.