Last reviewed: 1 Nov 2024
Last updated: 17 Aug 2021
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- lesions appear "stuck-on"
- localization on torso or face
- yellow or light- to dark-brown-colored lesions
- slightly raised, flat surface lesions
- wart-like texture
- multiple lesions
- painless
- itching (prurigo)
Full details
Other diagnostic factors
- round yellow-white horn pearls in the surface of lesions
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Risk factors
- age over 50 years
- Fitzpatrick skin type I or II
- Fitzpatrick skin type IV, V, or VI (dermatosis papulosa nigra)
- female sex (dermatosis papulosa nigra)
- family history
- sun/UV exposure
- pregnancy
Full details
Diagnostic tests
Tests to consider
- dermoscopy
- biopsy and histopathologic examination
- reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM)
Full details
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
irritated or itching lesions
ONGOING
raised seborrheic keratosis
flat seborrheic keratosis
Contributors
Authors
Ralph Braun, MD
Professor
Department of Dermatology
University Hospital Zurich
Zurich
Switzerland
Disclosures
RB declares that he has no competing interests.
Isabel Kolm-Djamei, MD
Consultant Dermatologist
Department of Dermatology
University Hospital Zurich
Zurich
Switzerland
Disclosures
IKD declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Erin Warshaw, MD, MS
Associate Professor
Department of Dermatology
University of Minnesota
MN
Disclosures
EW declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Malignant melanoma
- Viral warts
- Nevus
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