How to Treat Keratoacanthoma

Keratoacanthoma is a type of mostly benign skin tumor that begins with overexposure to sun, which damages the skin and causes improper growth of cells in the hair follicles. Keratoacanthoma creates red, dome-shaped eruptions on the skin with central craters. These grow rapidly (in a week or two) and then usually shrink spontaneously over the course of several months, often leaving scars in their wake. Here are some ways to treat keratoacanthoma.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Look for small reddish marks or bumps on your arms, trunk, face or buttocks. They will usually grow up to about half an inch (with a crater in the center) over the course of a couple of weeks and then stop growing.

2. Meet with your doctor to get these checked out.

3. Your doctor may prescribe medication or refer you a surgeon to treat the problem. In the rare cases when keratoacanthoma keeps growing and does not regress, it is mostly treated by surgery. Surgical treatments include freezing (cryotherapy), cutting (curettage) and burning (cauterization).

4. If the bumps reoccur on your body after surgery, consult the surgeon immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• Keratoacanthoma occurs mostly among people above the age of 50 years.
• Keratoacanthoma bumps may grow large (up to a diameter of 20 inches) when not treated properly.
• Avoid going out in the sun for a long time if you are prone to keratoacanthoma.

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