Types Of Keratosis

Many people are affected by skin conditions especially when they are at advanced stages of their lives. A common skin condition that is usually very disruptive is keratosis. This is a general term that is used to describe formation of several types of growths on the skin. It is usually caused by overproduction of a natural protein found in skin called keratin. Keratosis is not always harmful to the health of the patient but it is treated to prevent it from developing into cancer and also for cosmetic reasons. Treatment should be sought with full understanding of all the available options and with considerations of several factors that may affect the treatment chosen. The choice could have been easier if there was only one type of keratosis but there are three types.

The first type is called actinic keratosis. It is also popularly known as senile or solar keratosis. It is characterized by thick bumps that develop on the skin that are between 2-6 millimeters in diameter. The bumps range from brownish to reddish shades of color. It is a condition most found in the older population of over 40 years of age.  This is the most dangerous type of keratosis as it is known to be pre-cancerous. Treatment should therefore be sought after as soon as it is noticed.

The second type is seborrheic keratosis which is characterized by oval patches on the skin which are nearly flat and appear in shades of brown. They are usually found in areas which are not exposed to the sun such as the back. This type of keratosis is not cancerous and is oily as compared to the other forms. The only discomfort caused by this type of keratosis is itchiness or occasional bleeding when clothes rub the growths.

The third type is keratosis pilaris. It is also known as follicular keratosis. The main source of this condition is genetic. It is therefore a hereditary condition. This type does not cause any discomfort to the person and can go completely unnoticed for the entire lifetime of the person. A good way to protect you from developing the symptoms of this condition is proper nutrition, drinking enough water, regular exercise, enough sleep and avoiding psychological stress.

Treatment of keratosis is generally the same across the board. The main treatments available include surgery which involves incision of the growth. Another treatment is cryotherapy where the growth is frozen after which it falls off. Another treatment is curettage where a doctor uses an instrument to exfoliate the growth. Laser treatment is also used to burn the growth.

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