Skin & Complexion
Non-cancerous raised skin growths that should be accurately identified before any cosmetic removal.
Physician-led assessment · individualized care · Vancouver clinic
Understanding Selected Benign Raised Lesions
Maybe there's a waxy brown spot on your back that catches on your bra strap, or a rough, stuck-on patch near your hairline that seems to have grown over the years. Raised spots like these are very common, especially as we get older, and most are completely harmless.
The most familiar type is the seborrheic keratosis, a build-up of surface skin cells that often runs in families. Their look can overlap with warts, pre-cancerous changes and occasionally skin cancer, so we always identify a spot properly before we remove it. That way, a growth that's new, changing, bleeding, sore or irregular gets the right care, and once a spot is confirmed benign you can have it removed with peace of mind.
Causes and Contributing Factors
Many benign raised lesions relate to normal changes in skin cells over time. Seborrheic keratoses reflect a build-up of surface skin cells and are strongly associated with age and, in some people, a family tendency. Cumulative sun exposure contributes to several types of surface growth. Because the underlying cause varies by lesion type, accurate naming matters more than assuming a single cause.
Signs and Symptoms
Assessment
At your consultation, our physicians look closely at each spot's colour, borders, texture and any change over time, often with a dermatoscope, and compare it with your other spots. If there's any doubt, we may suggest a small biopsy first so a clear diagnosis is kept. Once we know what the growth is, we plan removal around where the spots are, how much they bother you, the timing that suits you and your budget.
Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
Prevention and Ongoing Care
Daily broad-spectrum sun protection supports healthy skin and helps limit the sun-related surface changes that build up over the years. Gentle cleansing and a good moisturizer keep the skin comfortable where growths rub on clothing or jewellery. Our team can suggest products from our online shop that suit your skin.
Treatment Options
These are some of the options connected to this concern. The appropriate plan depends on assessment, suitability, and your goals.
Everything starts with confirming the diagnosis. Our physicians treat selected benign skin lesions in clinic, so once a growth is confirmed benign it can be removed for cosmetic or comfort reasons, and anything with concerning features is directed to the right medical care first. The method depends on the type of growth, where it sits and your skin.
For the fuller picture, explore the treatment pages above or discuss the options during a consultation.
Medical Assessment
Medical assessment is important if a spot is new or changing, grows quickly, bleeds, doesn't heal, itches or hurts persistently, or has irregular colour, borders or asymmetry. A spot that looks different from your other spots also deserves a review. When in doubt, have a growth assessed before it's removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seborrheic keratoses are non-cancerous and usually harmless. Some skin cancers can look similar, so it's best to have a spot identified by one of our physicians, especially if it's new or changing.
Often yes, once it's confirmed benign. Removing a harmless growth for cosmetic or comfort reasons is very reasonable. The method, recovery and cost depend on the type of growth and where it sits, and we go through each of these at your consultation.
Some removal methods destroy the growth, which can make a later diagnosis difficult. If there's any uncertainty about whether a growth is benign, sampling it first keeps an accurate diagnosis possible. We'll let you know at your consultation whether this step applies to you.
Physician Assessment
An assessment can help clarify what may be contributing, which options may be appropriate, and what a reasonable next step could look like for you.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
Make an Appointment
Use our consultation form below and the clinic can guide you toward the appropriate starting point.
