Skin tags vs seborrheic keratosis

There are a variety of different skin disorders that can manifest across the body. Millions of people today are dealing with some form of skin problem. There are two options that can cause alarm, even though they are benign. These are skin tags and seborrheic keratosis, both of which may appear to be similar, but are different in how they form and why they form. If you feel that you may have one of these issues, you may want to understand their differences. While they may seem similar, they are in fact different in a variety of ways. The following breaks down the differences, so that you know what is going on with your skin.

Skin Tags

First, let’s consider skin tags. This is an issue that can occur in men, women, and children. These raised areas of skin form due to skin rubbing against skin. It can be due to obesity, diabetes, allergic reaction, pregnancy, and other issues. These are benign, and do not usually cause pain, or redness. In some instances, they can become irritated, but it’s often a simple growth that is not too difficult to manage.

You can remove skin tags with topical solutions such as essential oils, or acne medication. Minor lifestyle change and simple solutions can help not only force these to drop off, but also hinder them from returning. If you have skin tags, you do not have to worry too much, as there is no need to panic.

Seborrheic Keratosis

Moving forward, you’ll find that seborrheic keratosis is a wart that is benign. This looks cancerous at first glance because it’s a large growth that can look exactly like a wart, but it’s not the same as cancerous growths. In fact, it’s a matter of aging. Many people get this over time with age. They are usually on the chest, neck, or even on the hands. These are not contagious, and are caused by several genetic elements. People that have darker skin, are pregnant, or are of middle age or older may get this skin growth.

Heredity, time in the sun, and age have the most to do with these growths. It’s rare for children or young adults to get this growth, which is why it’s not something that you may see until you reach middle age or much older.

Removing The Issues

Both of these issues are not cancerous, and are not contagious. In most instances, you can get them removed with topical creams or oils. If they persist or come back often, you can visit a dermatologist and get them lanced or frozen. Each solution can be taken care of by a professional if they do not fall off naturally with acne medication, or essential oils.

While both options may look similar at first glance, they are very different. One is larger, for instance, and one only effects people of a certain age and family history. Again, it’s rare to see keratosis in young people, and children. Skin tags, however, can affect anyone, at any age, so long as the skin rubs against creases or folds in other skin.