Keratoacanthoma

Summary

A Keratoacanthoma grows quickly over a few weeks.
Ideally a Keratoacanthoma is removed by curettage when it is small to minimise scarring
Many Keratoacanthomas stop growing when they are around 1-2 cm in diameter but a small minority behave aggressively.

What Causes Keratoacanthoma?

The cause of Keratoacanthomas is unknown but they appear most commonly in fair-haired individuals who tan poorly in response to sunlight.

What Is Keratoacanthoma?

The label is given to two conditions that look almost identical when examined by the naked eye or under a microscope. One disease will, if left for eighteen months or so, goes away by itself leaving an unsightly crater in the skin. The other behaves like a rapidly growing, locally very aggressive, skin cancer.

What Happens To Keratoacanthoma?

The vast majority of Keratoacanthomas are removed surgically.

How Can Keratoacanthoma Be Treated?

Smaller Keratoacanthomas can be successfully removed by a technique called curettage that leaves a small hole in the skin to heal by itself. Larger ones are removed surgically.

How Can Keratoacanthoma Be Prevented?

Wearing a sunscreen may help. Two ml of sunscreen with SPF 20 and *** to **** UVA protection should be applied to the face every morning. Sunscreens containing mexoryl are amongst the least white available. A hat protects the scalp and forehead only.