Stucco Keratosis Treatment

What Is Stucco Keratosis?
When Should I Consult a Dermatologist?

What Is Stucco Keratosis?

Stucco keratosis is a condition characterized by multiple benign wart-like lesions that are typically small and white or gray in color. The lesions are so named because of their “stuck on” appearance.

Stucco keratosis usually appear on the legs, ankles, and feet, although they may sometimes appear on the arms and hands. The lesions are similar to those of seborrheic keratosis.

Most people who have stucco keratosis are over the age of 45, and men are affected four times more often than females. It is most common in elderly men. In the United States, approximately 10% of the senior population have stucco keratosis. All races are affected.

Most patients have multiple growths, with some having hundreds of lesions. Stucco keratoses do not become cancerous. Lesions are asymptomatic, and patients usually do not complain of having the lesions.

Stucco keratosis appears to be produced by thickening of the epidermis. Surface friction may contribute to the development of lesions.

When Should I Consult a Dermatologist?

If you have a skin growth that you cannot identify or that concerns you, schedule an appointment with a Water’s Edge dermatologist right away. Although stucco keratosis are not dangerous, in some cases they have been mistaken for melanoma.

If a particular lesion is bothersome, it can be removed with cryotherapy (freezing it off) or curettage (scraping it off). It is not practical to remove all stucco keratosis lesions in patients who have many lesions. Applying moisturizer to the skin after a bath or shower may minimize the appearance of the lesions.