Benign Growths

Liver spots

"Age spots" or "liver spots" are flat, brown areas called lentigines. They have nothing to do with the liver - they are caused by the sun and usually appear on the face, hands, back and feet. They are generally harmless. They may look like melanoma and therefore may require evaluation. Commercial "fade" creams will not make lentigines disappear, but effective prescription medications and surgical resurfacing treatments are available.

Seborrheic Keratoses

Although Seborrheic Keratoses are often confused with warts, they are quite different. Seborrheic keratoses are non-cancerous growths of the outer layer of skin. There may be just one growth, or many which occur in clusters. They are usually brown, but can vary in color from light tan to black. They vary in size from a fraction of an inch in diameter to larger than a half-dollar. A main feature of seborrheic keratoses is their waxy, "pasted-on" or "stuck-on" look. They sometimes look like a dab of warm brown candle wax that has dropped onto the skin.