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Applegarth Dermatology PC

Serving the areas of Valparaiso and LaPorte, Indiana

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INSURANCES ACCEPTED:

*Please note these are our top companies that we participate with.  This is not a complete list.  Please contact your insurace carrier to verify whether or not we are in your provider network.

Traditional Medicare

Railroad Medicare

Sagamore

Cigna

Encore

United Healthcare

CHA

Coventry

CCN

First Health

Aetna

PHCS

Multi Plan

UMR

Lutheran Preferred

Indiana Health Network

Anthem BCBS PPO

Anthem BCBS PDS

Caresource - Medicare Plan

AARP Medicare Complete

IU Health Plans - Medicare and Commercial

Tricare

Anthem Medicare Advantage HMO

AMBETTER

EFFECTIVE 2/22/19: WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING ALLWELL

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Our team of professionals and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well-being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics, which can be found on the side of each page. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you.

As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.

Seborrheic keratoses are common benign (noncancerous) skin growths that can occur anywhere on the body. While it is possible to have a seborrheic keratosis, it is more common to develop many of these growths, especially with increased age.

WHAT DOES AN SK LOOK LIKE?

Most SKs begin as small, rough bumps on the skin, though some can be smooth and flat. These bumps tend to grow

slowly and thicken gradually.

SKs are often brown, although they may range in color from light tan to black. They can vary in size from as small as a

fraction of an inch to larger than an inch.

SKs usually have a waxy, stuck-on-the-skin appearance, like a dab of warm candle wax. While this may make an SK look like it can be removed easily with a fingernail, you should not try this, as it could lead to irritation, a skin infection or a scar, and the SK will grow back.


Seborrheic keratosis

SKs may look like other common skin growths, including:

  • Warts: Although warts are generally harmless, they are caused by a virus and can spread. A dermatologist may recommend treatment, especially if you cannot get rid of a wart with treatment at home, a wart hurts or you have many
  • Actinic keratoses: These dry, scaly growths are flatter and rougher than SKs. AKs are caused by years of unprotected exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or indoor tanning beds. They are considered precancerous, as they may turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma if they are left untreated.
  • Moles: While it is normal for new moles to develop during childhood and adolescence, new moles usually do not appear in adults. A new mole may be a sign of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin
  • Melanoma: Melanoma can look like an SK, as both can grow quickly and become dark and irregular in shape. While melanoma can be deadly, it is highly treatable when detected

While SKs are harmless, other growths that may be dangerous could be mistaken for an SK. If you notice any new or

suspicious spots on your skin, or anything changing, itching or bleeding, see a board-certified dermatologist.

WHERE DO SKS APPEAR ON THE BODY?

SKs can form anywhere on the skin, except the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Most SKs appear on the chest, back, scalp, face and neck.

WHO GETS SKS?

While anyone may develop SKs, these growths generally appear in middle age or later. Children rarely develop SKs.

While SKs are more common in people with fair skin, they also can develop in people with darker skin tones. In people with skin of color, SKs tend to be small and appear around the eyes and on the cheeks.

WHAT CAUSES SKS?

The exact cause of SKs is unknown. The number of growths a person has tends to increase with age. While this may

make it appear like the growths are spreading, this is not the case, as SKs are not contagious.

SKs tend to run in families. They also may suddenly appear when a woman’s estrogen levels quickly rise or fall, such

as during pregnancy or after estrogen therapy.

SKs can form on both skin that gets sun exposure and skin that gets little or no sun. Therefore, more research is

needed to determine if UV light exposure plays a role in causing SKs.

SHOULD I SEE A DERMATOLOGIST ABOUT MY SKS?

SKs are benign, so treatment is generally not necessary. SKs are rarely a sign of a serious health problem.

However, you should see a board-certified dermatologist if you have any new or suspicious growths on your skin, as well as any growths that are changing, itching or bleeding, as these could be signs of skin cancer. Your dermatologist will examine the growth and may perform a biopsy, which involves removing all or some of the growth and sending it to a lab for evaluation.


Seborrheic keratosis

HOW DO BOARD-CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGISTS TREAT SKS?

Some patients ask their dermatologist to remove SKs that are large, irritated by clothing or jewelry, or considered unsightly. Check with your insurance company before asking your dermatologist to remove an SK, as this may be considered an elective cosmetic procedure that is not covered by your carrier.

A board-certified dermatologist will decide the most appropriate treatment for your SK. In-office procedures to

remove an SK include:

  • Cryotherapy: The dermatologist uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the SK, causing it to fall off within days. Sometimes a blister forms beneath the treated SK and dries into a scab-like crust, which eventually falls off as
  • Electrosurgery and/or curettage: The dermatologist may use an electric current to destroy the SK and/or a scoop-shaped instrument, called a curette, to scrape off the treated growth. Some patients may require only one of these steps. Stitches are not
  • Topical treatment: The dermatologist applies a hydrogen peroxide solution to raised SKs to remove them over the course of two office visits. While the risk of scarring is low, side effects may include itching, stinging, crusting, swelling, redness and scaling at the application
  • Laser treatments: Different types of laser treatments are available to treat SKs. These treatments are helpful when treating a large number of SKs, difficult-to-eliminate SKs and thicker SKs. Although there is less scarring associated with this kind of treatment, there is an increased risk of permanent loss of skin color in the

treated areas.


Multiple seborrheic keratoses

After SK treatment, you may see a small red, dark or light spot on your skin where the growth used to be. While this usually fades with time, a permanent light or white spot is a possible side effect of SK treatment, especially if you have a darker complexion.

A board-certified dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of skin, hair and nail conditions. To learn more about seborrheic keratoses or to find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit aad.org/SKs or call toll-free (888) 462-DERM (3376).

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Copyright © by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

Images used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides

American Academy of Dermatology

P.O. Box 1968, Des Plaines, Illinois 60017
AAD Public Information Center: 888.462.DERM (3376) AAD Member Resource Center: 866.503.SKIN (7546) Outside the United States: 847.240.1280

Web: aad.org

Email: [email protected]


Learn More

  • Acne
  • Rashes
  • Skin Cancers
  • Warts

Patient Education

Patient Education
  • Acne and rosacea
    • Acne
    • Acne scars
    • Acne products: How to avoid allergic reaction
    • Acne: Tips to help you see clearer skin
    • Adult acne
    • Isotretinoin: Treatment for severe acne
    • Rosacea
    • Rosacea: Skin Care Do's and Don'ts
  • Bumps and growths
    • Keratosis pilaris
    • Moles
    • Seborrheic keratosis
  • Color problems
    • Acanthosis nigricans
    • Melasma
    • Melasma:Tips to Make It Less Noticeable
    • Tinea versicolor
    • Vitiligo
  • Contagious skin diseases
    • Genital warts
    • Head Lice
    • Herpes simplex
    • Impetigo
    • Molluscum contagiosum
    • Nail fungus
    • Ringworm
    • Scabies
    • Shingles
    • Warts
  • Dry / sweaty skin
    • Dry skin
    • Hyperhidrosis
  • Eczema / dermatitis
    • Atopic dermatitis
    • Contact dermatitis
    • Dyshidrotic eczema
    • Neurodermatitis
    • Nummular dermatitis
    • Stasis dermatitis
    • Eczema: Tips to help children feel better
    • Eczema Bleach bath therapy
  • Hair and scalp problems
    • Alopecia areata
    • Hair loss
    • Scalp psoriasis
  • Itchy skin
    • Bedbugs
    • Hives
    • Poison ivy, oak, and sumac
  • Painful skin / joints
    • Hidradenitis suppurativa
    • Psoriatic arthritis
    • Scleroderma
  • Rashes
    • Lichen planus
    • Lupus and your skin
    • Pityriasis rosea
  • Scaly skin
    • Actinic keratosis
    • Psoriasis
    • Psoriasis Skin Care Guide
    • Psoriatic arthritis
    • Seborrheic dermatitis
  • Skin cancer
    • Basal cell carcinoma
    • Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)
    • Imiquimod: A treatment for some skin cancers, genital warts
    • Melanoma
      • Next steps after a melanoma diagnosis
    • Merkel cell carcinoma
    • Sebaceous carcinoma
    • Squamous cell carcinoma
    • Skin cancer in people of color
    • Skin Cancer Prevention
    • Who's got your back
    • Can you spot skin cancer?
  • Skin, hair, and nail care
    • Skin care
      • How to Apply Sunscreen
      • How to Shave
      • Skin Self-Exam: How to Do
      • Face Washing 101
      • How to Apply Self-Tanner
      • Get the most from your skin care products
      • Dry skin relief
      • Preventing skin conditions in athletes
      • How to care for tattooed skin
      • How to care for pierced ears
      • How to Treat Diaper Rash
      • Skin Care on a Budget
      • How to Treat Boils and Styes
      • How to Treat Dandruff
      • How to Treat Shingles
      • How to Treat Cold Sores
      • How to Treat Hives in Children
      • Wrinkle Remedies
    • Hair care / hair loss
      • How to Style Hair Without Damage
      • Tips for Healthy Hair
      • How to remove gum without cutting hair
      • Coloring and perming tips
    • Injured skin
      • Tips for treating poison ivy
      • How to treat sunburn
      • Proper Wound Care: How to Minimize a Scar
      • How to Prevent and Treat Frostbite
    • Nail care
      • Manicure and pedicure safety
      • Tips for Healthy Nails
  • Other conditions
    • Diabetes warning signs
  • Videos

Our Location

1861 S. Sturdy Rd
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 548-0360
 
3444 Monroe
La Porte, IN 46350
(219) 362-0161

Map & directions

Appointment Request

Valparaiso, IN Dermatologist Applegarth Dermatology PC 1861 S. Sturdy Rd. Valparaiso, IN46383 (219) 548-0360 Dermatologist in Valparaiso, IN Call For Pricing
La Porte, IN Dermatologist Applegarth Dermatology PC 3444 Monroe St. La Porte, IN46350 (219) 362-0161 Dermatologist in La Porte, IN Call For Pricing
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