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Seborrhoeic keratoses
What it is: Brownish, rough bumps found on any part of the skin. They look as if they are stuck onto the skin. They can cause itching.
Cause: Unknown. However, they occur more commonly in sun-exposed areas or in those with a family history of this condition.
Cures: Freezing the affected portion with liquid nitrogen, then scraping if off with a medical tool. Another method is electro-desiccation which involves burning the affected tissue with an electric tip.
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Liver spots (solar lentines)
What it is: Flat, brownish spots or patches. It is usually found on our faces, outer surfaces of our arms and the upper portion of our chest.
Cause: Unlike its name, it is not due to a liver problem. Its cause is long-term sun exposure.
Cures: It may be treated with a combination of creams and pigment laser.
An alternative is intense pulse light treatment.
Some preventive measures include using sunscreen from young and limiting excessive sun exposure.
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Viral warts
What it is: Commonly found on hands, face and pressure points of the foot, they often have a rough raised surface.
They vary from flesh colour to various shades of brown and black and can occur at any age.
Cause: Human papilloma virus - a common virus that causes warts - which can be spread by direct or indirect contact.
Decreased immunity in the elderly may prevent the body from fighting the virus.
Cures: Liquid nitrogen therapy, electrosurgery, lasers and excision biopsy. Electrosurgery is the use of a high-frequency electric current to cut or dessicate the tissue, which will allow precise cuts to be made with minimal blood loss.
An excision biopsy is an incision made on the skin to remove all or part of the abnormal tissue.
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Actinic keratoses
What it is: Red, rough and scaly spots ranging in size from 3 to 10mm and usually found on sun-exposed skin. It is important to recognise them as they are an early sign of cancer.
Cause: They occur in older people due to cumulative sun exposure.
Cures: They ought to be removed as they are pre-cancerous. Methods include laser treatment, surgery and freezing with liquid nitrogen before removal.
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This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.
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