If you are here, it is because you may have noticed a scratchy mole with a greasy or crusty appearance on its surface that has appeared recently. In addition, when you scratch it, you may even notice that part of this "mole" is detached and falls off. If this is the case, it is possible that what you have is a seborrheic keratosis or seborrheic wart.
What are crusted moles or seborrheic keratoses?
Seborrheic keratoses are very frequent and fortunately are totally benign. They occur due to overgrowth of the top layer of skin cells called epidermis and is related to different causes that I will explain later.
The clearest association is with age, as they usually occur in people over 30 years of age. In the end, almost everyone ends up developing at least a few seborrheic warts during their lifetime, as they tend to become more common and more numerous with age. For this reason, they are also known as the "moles of old age".
Although seborrheic keratoses may first appear in one location and appear to spread to another, they are not contagious. As people age they may simply develop more.
These lesions can be found anywhere on the body except on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands. In some locations such as the face, seborrheic keratoses can be flat and be a frequent consultation of facial blemishes.
They can appear in isolation as a single lesion, or what is much more common, is that several appear at the same time. In most cases they are brown in color, but they can vary in shade from light skin color to black. Sometimes they become irritated and a crust may appear on them, hence the name crusty mole.
How do you know if a crusted mole is malignant?
While we know that seborrheic keratoses are not dangerous, there are some lesions that may present as a crusty mole or rough patches on the skin that require some attention. Sometimes, it can be difficult to distinguish a harmless seborrheic keratosis from a dangerous lesion. Something that looks like seborrheic keratosis. could actually be melanoma.
One of the most effective ways to detect melanoma is to learn the ABCDE rule illustrated below.
So, when do I have to go to a dermatologist?
If you have noticed a crusty mole that has some of the following characteristics, it is recommended that you have a visit with your dermatologist.
- Some of the characteristics of ABCDE
- There is a change in appearance of an existing mole
- There is a single odd-looking mole (seborrheic keratoses are usually multiple).
- The lesion is irritated, bleeding or persistently painful.
In conclusion, if you have a crusty mole on your skin that worries you, it is always a good idea to go to a specialist and do not attempt to remove the injury by your own means.
What do seborrheic keratoses look like?
Now then, let's look at what is important in this article and you can identify these rough patches on the skin. A seborrheic keratosis is usually easily identified by its appearance.
Possibly one of the most telling characteristics of seborrheic keratoses is that they appear to have been "stuck on the skin". They may look like a piece of hot brown candle wax that has fallen on the skin.
Photos of seborrheic keratoses
These rough patches on the skin usually begin as small, rough areas. Over time, they tend to develop a thick, wart-like surface. They may also have a waxy appearance and a slightly raised wart-like surface. Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, but can also be yellow, white or black. Sometimes patients tell us that they have "dropped a wart on their own" from their skin.
Dermoscopic photos of seborrheic keratoses
In order to make an accurate diagnosis dermatologists always use a technique called dermatoscopy with polarized light. After making this examination we can affirm that they are benign lesions and we can offer appropriate treatment. Now I leave you some fascinating images made by dermoscopy so you can see what seborrheic keratoses look like.
Why do I get seborrheic keratoses?
There are several risk factors for the development of seborrheic keratosis and it is important to be aware of them, as some of them are preventable. Among the best known are the following:
- Advanced age: the condition usually develops in middle-aged people and progressively increases with age.
- Relatives with seborrheic keratosis: this skin condition is usually hereditary. The risk increases with the number of affected relatives.
- Frequent exposure to the sun: studies show that skin exposed to the sun is more likely to develop seborrheic keratosis.
- Pregnancy/hormonal: the development of seborrheic keratoses can be triggered by pregnancy or estrogen therapy.
What is the treatment of seborrheic keratosis?
In many cases, a seborrheic keratosis does not need treatment. However, most of our patients come to us because they are bothered by them or because they do not like them aesthetically. In addition, a decision may be made to remove any crusty mole that looks suspicious or causes physical or emotional discomfort.
The most commonly used removal methods for seborrheic keratoses are:
- Cryotherapy (cryosurgery): uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the tumor and is usually quite effective in removing a seborrheic keratosis. It is not my favorite method because many times we end up freezing the skin around seborrheic keratoses and it can cause skin discoloration.
- Electrosurgery: The skin is first anesthetized and then an electrode is used to burn the seborrheic keratosis with electric current. If not done with caution it can lead to scarring and tends to be a slower method than the rest, so it is reserved for when there are few lesions.
- Curettage: The skin is first anesthetized and then a spoon-shaped surgical instrument is used to scrape off the tumor.
- CO2 laser: uses a beam of light that allows vaporizing seborrheic keratosis in a very controlled and precise manner. For me it is the method of choice when aesthetics is very important and we want to treat many lesions at the same time.
After removal of a crusted mole
Depending on the size of the seborrheic keratosis it is normal for the skin to become lighter in color for some time at the site of removal. The seborrheic keratoses that we remove will not reappear, but it is possible that new lesions may develop on other parts of the body over time. Therefore, it is necessary to perform "rework" of new keratoses as they appear.
How to avoid seborrheic keratoses?
Unfortunately, there are no methods to effectively prevent seborrheic keratoses all over the body. But there are some things we can do.
- Protection from the sun: Today we know that the sun is one of the risk factors for the development of seborrheic keratoses. If we protect ourselves adequately, the risk of developing more keratosis would decrease and also the risk of developing more keratosis. dreaded skin cancer.
- Use creams with retinol or alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA): in areas such as the face can be used creams with skin-renewing compounds such as retinol or AHAs. This will allow us to improve the quality of the skin and secondarily prevent further development of seborrheic keratoses.
- See a dermatologist when they are as small as possible: If your concern is aesthetics, the most important thing is to go to your dermatologist as soon as possible to remove these "crusty moles". This way we make sure to do as little damage as possible and no marks will be left from the procedure.
40 Responses
Are they always brown or can they be skin-colored and dry, like a small shell? I have had a small, circular, dry skin-like husk near my elbow for a few months now that doesn't hurt, it doesn't itch, doesn't seem to grow or change, and doesn't seem to go away. It has no color.
Seborrheic keratoses can have many different forms and appearances. The only way to know for sure is to do a dermatoscopic examination.
Best regards
I have a mole on my face that got bigger because I removed it when I was little, now I've seen it crusted and a little bigger, I'm worried that it will keep growing because I don't like it anymore.
I have them, they itched a lot and at night I could not sleep now I have had a cryotherapy treatment and I have improved a lot but they always say it is for aesthetic reasons and I think it is not true because what mattered to me was the itching and the discomfort it caused me.
Thanks for the information on seborrheic keratitis, I have seen them a lot in my clients, I am a hairdresser and I would like to know if they are contagious, I like to sterilize my tools but sometimes I don't have enough time.
I also like to send my clients to a dermatologist, but I had a lot of doubts as to whether these moles were moles or warts, the truth is that they are quite uncomfortable and look very bad.
Now I know what to tell my clients and send them to a specialist.
Hello Cesar,
Seborrheic keratoses are not contagious. They usually occur in genetically predisposed individuals. In cases where seborrheic keratoses are bothersome or unsightly, we can treat them very effectively with laser or other methods.
Best regards
If they are in a breast is it bad, every time I am in the water for a long time it starts to fall off in small pieces but comes back out again, is that normal?
Hi Karina,
What you say is common in seborrheic keratoses but we always recommend seeing a specialist to confirm the diagnosis. In addition, if it is a seborrheic keratosis it can be treated and thus eliminated forever.
I have a keratosis on my breast, I had it checked by the dermatologist, she told me exactly that, that it was a keratosis and by way of playfulness she said: "that comes out of old age".
Hello, indeed seborrheic keratoses tend to appear as we age. We hardly ever see them before the age of 30 and it is a condition with a significant genetic burden.
Hello doctor! I have had a mole like this all my life or as long as I can remember, today I saw the scab as if it was coming off, is it normal?
Hello Mariana,
The ideal is to look at this mole to see what it is.
Hello! Very interesting article and it opened a concern for me, regarding a mole that I have on my right thigh that has a crust, every so often it falls off. Its shape and color is regular although I have noticed that over time it has grown. Its appearance is very similar to the "moles" shown in the post as an example on the head of an older man. Does it correspond to seborrheic keratosis? Or is it a subject for consultation?
Dear Angel,
To make a diagnosis it is necessary to consult a dermatologist and explore this lesion with dermoscopy.
Best regards
Very interesting article, doctor. At last someone who explains in such an understandable and complete way a subject that makes those of us who have a family history with melanoma a bit nervous. I was worried about a couple of moles and now I see that they may be seborrheic keratoses. I have a question. I have presented two moles with crusting that have fallen off. They grow slowly, I think. But they itch. I imagine it is part of the keratoses you are talking about, is it, or should I have a specialist look at it? Thank you so much for this very important space.
Dear Ofelia, thank you very much for your comment. Indeed, it is always better to have a dermatologist evaluate you in the office and give you a recommendation.
hello, I have one similar to the seborrheic keratosis, but sometimes it itches or the surrounding area gives me a lot of pain but not the scab itself.
Hi wen, the idea would be to see this lesion in order to make a correct diagnosis.
Best regards
Thank you very much for this interesting article, I got one of those moles on my breast in my first pregnancy at 31 years old and it went away very quickly, now I have one on my back but it has been there for about 3 years, is it normal?
Thank you very much Berenice,
A physical examination with dermoscopy is necessary to evaluate your mole. That is why I advise you to go to a professional consultation.
Hi I have a similar one on my breast, but is it common for the scab to fall off and after a while come back on? When it comes off it feels waxy like grease. Thank you
Hi Karla,
From what you say, it could be a seborrheic keratosis. However, in order to be sure, it is necessary to see it in person.
This post more than a concern, is of gratitude, I have gone to Dr. Sebastian and the truth is that the wonderful care, at first I was a little scared because I had two moles on one side, in my opinion quite large and I was afraid that it would hurt a lot or that I would have a scar and the truth is that very well! I have been delighted! It didn't hurt at all.
The doctor was always very attentive to my process and the area where the moles were as if nothing had happened, I have had the procedure for almost a month, following his recommendations and care to the letter and it has healed super well! As if they had never been there.
Highly recommended! Definitely the best!! 👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you very much for your comment Natalia. 😃
Thank you for your very professional explanation, I have one on my face that has grown and is crusty, I have also had some on my neck. Soon I will be attending to me, greetings from Cuba.
Thank you very much Valia for your comments. It makes me want to write more articles when I hear that they can be useful for my patients.
My daughter got a small one, is it normal? She is 9 years old
Hi Henry, seborrheic keratoses are not normal at this age. It is probably another diagnosis. If the lesion persists over time I recommend that you see a dermatologist.
I don't know if you have already consulted, but I am 39 years old and have had a similar one in my chest for as long as I can remember (before I was 9 for sure), so while it is good that you consult, it can happen in children. Love
Hello sun. Indeed the best we can always do is to go to a dermatologist to make a diagnosis of certainty.
Good afternoon doctor, I went to the dermatologist because I noticed that a very small mole on my arm had scabbed over, the dermatologist indicated that I should wait until the scab was gone to make a diagnosis. My question is and if the scab always continues on the mole how do you make the diagnosis or at some point that scab may disappear?
Dear Luz, I would love to be able to answer your question but without assessing you I could not know what diagnosis to give. If there is a scab, I would wait or put a cream with petroleum jelly so that within 2-3 weeks the scab will be removed and you can see it better. Then go to the dermatologist so that he can better guide the diagnosis.
Serve the bacitracin cream
Hello Sonia,
No, bacitracin cream or other creams are not effective against seborrheic keratoses. Effective medical treatments to remove them are usually destructive and have to be performed in a dermatologist's office.
Best regards
I have one on the side of my arm but I have had it since I was a little girl, only now it is crusted and before I remember it was not, honestly I never paid attention to moles until they started saying that some of them are malignant. Is it possible at 22 to have a seborrheic spot?
Hi Lucia, if you have a freshly crusted spot it is best to go to a dermatologist to have it looked at. Seborrheic keratoses are rare at age 22.
Hello doctor! Can they appear between the hair? My daughter is 13 years old and she has something like this, very similar in appearance, on the scalp, under the hair. We have already made an appointment with the dermatologist, but it is not for another 20 days.
Dear Betiana,
At 13 years of age, it is very rare for a seborrheic keratosis to appear. The most likely diagnosis is that it is a mole. The best thing to do is to see a dermatologist and be reassured that it is probably a benign lesion.
Thank you Doctor! very clear and instructive explanations. I will go to the dermatologist as soon as possible, greetings from Argentina!
Warmest greetings and I hope all is going very well 😃