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Seborrheic Keratosis Removal in Jacksonville
Seborrheic keratoses are among the most common growths dermatologists see: waxy, warty, “stuck-on” spots that arrive with age and often look far more alarming than they are. They’re benign, but “benign” doesn’t mean you have to keep them. At Jacksonville Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, seborrheic keratoses are evaluated and removed in the office by our experienced providers under the medical direction of Dr. Brandon T. Beal, a double board-certified, fellowship-trained dermatologist.
Double board-certified
Dr. Beal holds board certification in dermatology and Mohs micrographic surgery.
Fellowship-trained
Advanced training under Drs. Zitelli and Brodland.
Physician-owned
Independently owned small business, never a corporate chain.
Southpoint, Jacksonville
Off I-95 at Southpoint, minutes from most of Jacksonville and the beaches.
What Are Seborrheic Keratoses?
Seborrheic keratoses are common, non-cancerous growths that tend to appear as people age. They range from tan to brown to nearly black, have a waxy or warty surface, and often look as though they’ve been stuck onto the skin. They show up most often on the chest, back, neck, face, and scalp, sometimes one at a time and sometimes by the dozen.
They’re harmless, they’re not contagious, and they’re not precancerous. But they can itch, catch on clothing, and get irritated, and plenty of people simply don’t like the look of them, particularly on the face. All fair reasons to have them removed.
Why Evaluation Matters First
Here’s the honest catch with seborrheic keratoses: dark, irregular growths are exactly what melanoma can look like too, and even dermatologists take look-alikes seriously. A growth that’s new, changing, bleeding, or just doesn’t match your others deserves a professional eye before anyone calls it harmless.
That’s why every removal here starts with an exam. A dermatology provider’s evaluation is frequently all that’s needed to confirm a seborrheic keratosis; when there’s any doubt, your provider may recommend a shave biopsy so a pathologist can confirm it under a microscope. And if you’ve collected a number of new spots over the years, a full-body skin cancer screening is the sensible companion visit; sorting the harmless from the concerning is precisely what it’s for. Not sure whether your spot is a seborrheic keratosis or a mole? That distinction changes the approach too: see non-surgical mole removal.
How We Remove Seborrheic Keratoses
Once the growth is confirmed benign, removal is a quick office procedure, matched to the growth’s size, thickness, and location, with no surgical excision and no stitches:
- Curettage. The growth is gently scraped away at the surface, where seborrheic keratoses live. Well suited to thicker, raised growths.
- Shave removal. The growth is removed flush with the skin, and the tissue can be sent for confirmation when your provider wants a pathologist’s eyes on it.
- Chemical peels. For certain shallow growths and the sun-damaged skin around them, a chemical peel can be part of the plan.
The area is typically numbed for comfort, individual growths take minutes, and several can often be addressed in one visit. Most patients resume normal activities the next day. All procedures carry some risk, but complications from seborrheic keratosis removal are uncommon.
Your Removal Visit
1
Evaluation
Your provider confirms the growth is a seborrheic keratosis, with a biopsy if there’s any doubt, and reviews which growths you’d like removed.
2
Removal
The area is typically numbed, and the growth is removed by curettage or shave in minutes, no incisions, no stitches.
3
Healing
You’ll leave with simple aftercare instructions. Treated spots typically heal over days to a couple of weeks, and protecting the healing skin from the Florida sun is the rule that matters most.
Schedule a Seborrheic Keratosis Evaluation in Jacksonville
Whether a growth is bothering you, multiplying, or just something you’d like confirmed and gone, one visit usually settles it. We welcome patients from across the Jacksonville area, including Orange Park and Clay County, at our office at 6817 Southpoint Pkwy, Suite 101. Send a request through our contact page, or call (904) 420-7372 to speak with our team. You can also review our pricing page.
Common questions
Seborrheic Keratosis FAQs.
Are seborrheic keratoses dangerous?
No; they’re benign and not precancerous. The caution is about look-alikes: melanoma and other skin cancers can resemble a dark, irregular growth, which is why anything new, changing, or bleeding deserves an exam before it’s dismissed. Confirming the diagnosis is the medical value of the visit; removing the growth is the bonus.
Why do I keep getting more of them?
Age and genetics, mostly; if your parents had them, you probably will too, and they tend to accumulate over the years. Removing existing growths doesn’t cause new ones, and new ones can be removed the same way. Some patients simply come in periodically to clear the latest arrivals.
Does removal hurt?
Not much. The area is typically numbed first, individual growths come off in minutes, and the spot afterward feels like a minor scrape while it heals. Most patients are back to normal activities the next day.
Is it a seborrheic keratosis or a mole?
They can be hard to tell apart at home; seborrheic keratoses sit on the skin with a waxy, stuck-on look, while moles live in it, but plenty of growths blur the line. Your provider makes the call at your exam, and the removal approach follows the diagnosis. If it’s a mole, see our non-surgical mole removal page for how that’s handled.
Does insurance cover seborrheic keratosis removal?
Usually not. Because seborrheic keratoses are benign growths, removal is typically considered cosmetic and paid out of pocket; evaluation of a concerning or irritated growth is a medical visit and may be covered depending on your plan. We’re upfront about this before anything is removed, and current information is on our pricing page.
Benign doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it.
Seborrheic keratoses confirmed and removed in one office visit, no stitches. Physician-owned and independent, in Jacksonville.