45 yr old female - raised brown spots all over my back, can they be removed? (photo)

Question

Would like to have these brown spots removed from my back. I believe they are called sebhorric keratosis? As you can see, they are taking over. My mother had them, so assuming they are genetic. Lucky me! I had some removed via Fraxel 2 resurfacing from my face and was pleased with the results. Is it possible to do the same for my back, and how many treatments would it take? Also wondering aproximate cost. Thank you!

Francis X. Fleming, MD · Answer

The simplest way to treat these is by shaving them off flush
with the skin and then using light electrocautery. The wound heals in a few
days with antibiotic ointment used as a bandage. The skin will be red for a few
months but this typically fades and the final healing results in no scarring.

Matthew C. Camp, MD · Answer

These can easily be treated by shaving or freezing them off. A rough cost estimate would be about $250 for 15 spots. I would not suggest doing more than 30 at a time as the recovery could be uncomfortable. 
Matthew C Camp M.D.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Melarase PM, Hyfrecation, and fractional lasers can help improve the age spots and seb k on your back.Best, Dr. KaramanoukianLos Angeles

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

These can be removed with lasers, liquid nitrogen, or electro-desiccation. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! These can easily be treated by shaving or freezing them off. A rough cost estimate would be about $250 for 15 spots. I would not suggest doing more than 30 at a time as the recovery could be uncomfortable. Best of luck!

Kay Bishop, MD · Answer

These are referred to as seborrheic keratoses (plural) / seborrheic keratosis (single lesion).  The good news is that they are nothing to worry about.  The bad news is that we tend to get more and more of them with time.  These are common, benign (noncancerous) skin growths, that can range in color from light tan to almost black, and can range in size from very small to larger than an inch.  They are usually rough or waxy on the surface, and often look like they have been "stuck on," or splattered on the skin.  There is a genetic predisposition to form these.  Some people will get literally thousands of them, while others may have only rare isolated lesions.  They are generally asymptomatic, but occasionally become itchy or irritating.  The biggest medical concern regarding these lesions is that they can camouflage something else that you should be concerned about.  It is easier to overlook a melanoma if it is surrounded by other brown spots that may be more prominent than the skin cancer.  In contrast, melanoma skin cancer usually looks like it's in the skin, instead of on the skin.  A good rule to remember is that anything that looks different than anything else on your skin should probably be checked out (the "Ugly Duckling" rule).
Seborrheic keratoses can be removed, but removal does not prevent new lesions from coming.  If a person is genetically programed to get them in certain areas, it may not be too long after removal before new ones start to develop.  The most common method for removal is cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen).  This causes a blister to form underneath the seborrheic keratosis.  It is then best to let the blister dry up, let it heal underneath, and when the top of the blister comes off, so does the SK.  They can also be shaved off with a blade, or scraped off with an instrument called a curette.  This leaves a shallow sore that usually needs to be covered with a dressing until it heals.  Healing can occur within several days on the face, but can take several weeks elsewhere on the body.  Either of these methods can leave behind discoloration that can last for several weeks, or even a few months.  The discoloration is less likely to occur on the face, and more likely to occur with darker skin.  There are several different lasers that can be used to diminish the appearance of these lesions, but achieving complete removal is more difficult with most of the lasers than it is with the other two methods mentioned.  Cost is extremely variable.  In our office, we charge $85 for removal of up to 15 lesions, and $50 for each additional 10 lesions.  There is a soap bar called SKrub (Burke Pharmaceutials), that has variable success in diminishing the appearance of seborrheic keratoses.  This is available for $10.99.  Other cleansers or moisturizers with salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acid (glycolic acid, lactic acid, etc.), can also be helpful.

Pauline Scott, MD, MBA · Answer

From your picture, it would appear that you have multiple seborrheic keratoses which are benign skin lesions that tend to appear over time with age. These can be cosmetically displeasing to patients and can be removed via multiple modalities including liquid nitrogen, electro-dessication, shaving them at the base, and lasers. It would be best to consult with a board certified dermatologist and get a full skin exam before proceeding with any treatments to ensure you would not unknowingly be treating any other skin lesions such as moles or skin cancers. In rare cases, seborrheic keratoses can appear suddenly secondary to an underlying malignancy, so it would be best to see your primary care physician to get age appropriate malignancy screenings yearly. Good luck!

Dinesh Maini, MBChB · Answer

Hi 
Thank you very much for sharing your photos. The Ellman machine is widely avaliable in the USA.
We have been using it since 2004 and these lesions never scar.
I am sure you will be thrilled....

William Kwan, MD, FAAD · Answer

Multiple seborrheic keratosis are a common concern, especially when they are widespread. People will try various treatments to try to manage them like exfoliants, chemical peels, Liquid Nitrogen freezing and laser treatments. Unfortunately the Fraxel laser you had done (which I assume is a CO2) cannot be easily done on the torso due to the size of the area plus the body doesn't heal as well as the face with such a procedure. What I would recommend is gradually treating them with gentle freezing or removal with an electric needle. I wouldn't recommend doing them all at once but slowly making a dent in them over multiple visits. Once the larger lesions are removed, then peels or laser may be more of an option.

Davin Lim, MBBS, FACD - Account Suspended · Answer

Simple procedures like curettage can make a huge difference. Literally over a hundred can be removed in half an hour. Sometimes simple instruments in the correct hands work even better and faster than the newest lasers. See a dermatologist near you. Dr Davin S. Lim

45 yr old female - raised brown spots all over my back, can they be removed? (photo)

Answers (10)

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