Seborrheic Keratoses Treatment Options

I'm 75 and have keratosis on my face and upper torso. My PCP is sometimes reluctant to take care of them using LN2, since Medicare regards this as cosmetic. Does the wart remover "Freeze Away" work sufficiently or is there a better product?

Your primary care physician is correct about benign seborrheic kertaoses. They are considered by Medicare to be cosmetic unless they are causing irritation such as itching, bleeding, pain or get caught on clothing.

These are usually brown rough raised growths that often appear on the trunk but can also show up on other body areas. There is no acceptable over-the-counter product or prescription medication that dermatologists feel will effectively remove them. Liquid nitrogen is the best treatment. Surgical shave removal is also useful for larger lesions.

It is important that seborrheic keratoses be distinguished from actinic keratoses which are pre-skin cancers caused by sunlight. Since Medicare will pay for an office visit with a dermatologist, I feel that this is a case where you should have a skin specialist examine them and give you an opinion about the best treatment and what is covered by your insurance.