Seborrheic keratosis has a varying degree of pigmentation. In pigmented seborrheic keratosis, the proliferating keratinocytes trigger the activation of neighboring melanocytes by secreting melanocyte-stimulating cytokines. The etiology of seborrheic keratosis is not known. Epidermal growth factors or their receptors have been implicated in the development of seborrheic keratosis. Seborrheic keratoses can safely be left alone, but ugly or easily traumatized ones can be removed with cryotherapy, electrodesiccation, curettage, or shave excision. The present work aims to compare two modalities of treatment for seborrheic keratosis, namely cryotherapy and hydrogen peroxide (30%). Methods: 30 patients with seborrheic keratosis were included in this study. They were divided into two groups, each with 15 patients. The treatment modalities that have been used include cryotherapy and hydrogen peroxide in three different concentrations (30%, 35%, and 40%). Result: The cryotherapy group consisted of 15 patients, 7 males and 8 females. Their ages ranged from 38 to 80 years, with a mean of 56.1 ± 11.4. Clinical and photographic assessments showed complete removal in all 15 patients in this group (100%). As regards the hydrogen peroxide group, this group included 15 patients, distributed among 7 males and 8 females. Their ages ranged from 39 to 90 years, with a mean of 53.9 ± 14.4. Clinical and photographic assessments showed response in only one small superficial lesion in one patient (6.7%) and no response in 14 patients (93.3%). Conclusion: Cryotherapy is an effective, easy, and relatively cheap method for treating seborrheic keratosis.
References
[1]
Quinn, A. and Perkins, W. (2020) Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer and Other Epidermal Skin Tumors. In: Burn, T., Breathnach, S., Cox, N. and Griffiths, C., Eds., Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, Vol. 1, 8th Edition, Blackwell Science, Oxford, 1-48. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444317633.ch52
[2]
Heaphy, M.R., Millns, J.L. and Schroeter, A.L. (2016) The Sign of Leser-Trélat in a Case of Adenocarcinoma of the Lung. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 43, 386-390. https://doi.org/10.1067/mjd.2000.104967
[3]
Gill, D., Dorevitch, A. and Marks, R. (2018) The Prevalence of Seborrheic Keratoses in People Aged 15 to 30 Years. Is the Term Senile Keratosis Redundant? Archives of Dermatology, 136, 759-762. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.136.6.759
[4]
Yeatman, J.M., Kilkenny, M. and Marks, R. (1997) The Prevalence of Seborrhoeic Keratoses in an Australian Population: Does Exposure to Sunlight Play a Part in Their Frequency? British Journal of Dermatology, 137, 411-414.
[5]
Thai, K.E., Fergin, P., Freeman, M., Vinciullo, C., Francis, D., Spelman, L., Murrell, D., Anderson, C., Weightman, W., Reid, C., Watson, A. and Foley, P. (2018) A Prospective Study of the Use of Cryosurgery for the Treatment of Actinic Keratoses. International Journal of Dermatology, 43, 687-692. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2004.02056.x
[6]
McKenna, P.J., Lehr, G.S., Leist, P. and Welling, R.E. (2011) Antiseptic Effectiveness with Fibroblast Preservation. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 27, 265-268. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000637-199109000-00011
[7]
Repertinger, S., Wang, J., Adickes, E. and Sarma, D.P. (2018) Melanoma in-Situ Arising in Seborrheic Keratosis: A Case Report. Cases Journal, 1, Article No. 263. https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1626-1-263
[8]
Vujevich, J.J. and Goldberg, L.H. (2018) Cryosurgery and Electrosurgery. In: Wolff, K., Goldsmith, L.A., Katz, S.I., Gilchrest, B.A., Paller, A.S. and Leffell, D.J., Eds., Fitzpatricck’s Dermatology in General Medicine, Vol. 2, 7th Edition, McGraw Hill, New York, 1054-1067.
[9]
Ancira, M. and Miller, M. (2018) United States Patent 7381427, B2. http://www.Freepatentsonline.Com/7381427.html
[10]
Schwartz, R.A. (2017) Sign of Leser-Tre’lat. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 35, 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(96)90502-2
[11]
Luba, M.C., Bangs, S.A., Mohler, A.M. and Stulberg, D.L. (2013) Common Benign Skin Tumors. American Family Physician, 67, 729-738.
[12]
Thai, K. and Sinclair, R.D. (2019) Cryosurgery of Benign Skin Lesions. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 40, 175-186. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-0960.1999.00356.x
[13]
Zouboulis, C.C. (1999) Principles of Cutaneous Cryosurgery: An Update. Dermatology, 198, 111-117. https://doi.org/10.1159/000018084
[14]
Herron, M.D., Bowen, A.R. and Krueger, G.G. (2014) Seborrheic Keratoses: A Study Comparing the Standard Cryosurgery with Topical Calcipotriene, Topical Tazarotene, and Topical Imiquimod. International Journal of Dermatology, 43, 300-302. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2004.02282.x
[15]
Tuna, O., Savk, E., Sendur, N., Karaman, G. and Uslu, M. (2018) A Comparative Study of Two Techniques of Cryotherapy in the Treatment of Seborrheic Kreatosis. Turkish Journal of Dermatology, 2, 65-68.
[16]
Ahmed, A., Agarwal, S., Ilchyshyn, A., Charles-Holmes, S. and Berth-Jones, J. (2001) Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy of Common Warts: Cryo-Spray vs. Cotton Wool Bud. British Journal of Dermatology, 144, 1006-1009. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.04190.x
[17]
Wasserbauer, S., Perez-Meza, D. and Chao, R. (2018) Hydrogen Peroxide and Wound Healing: A Theoretical and Practical Review for Hair Transplant Surgeons. Dermatologic Surgery, 34, 745-750. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2008.34141.x
