In a bad place with this: SK's: Seborrheic Keratosis or Senile Warts

[HappyDaysAreAhead]

Last year my Dad tragically died. I was there. Immediately afterwards I started to experience itchy skin and have high blood pressure.

GP said high BP likely caused by the trauma and it may resolve as I come to terms with everything. It hasn't and I now take medication. My GP couldn't explain the skin issues but said it could be perimenopausal.

Then I got my first Seborrheic Keratosis. It grew quickly and was constantly inflamed and I had never experienced so much itchiness before. In the end it was removed by the NHS as they were unsure what it was.

I've recently realised that I have 4 more Seb K's. 1 is really itchy. I have a GP appt booked but it's 4 weeks away.

I've read so much about Seb K's but there's limited 'real life' info.

I'm starting to spiral into panic as I've read Seb K's can be a 'Leser-Trélat' symptom of internal cancer. I can't see anything relating to this about frequency and amount of Seb K's.

I've read they are generally on the trunk area.
Mine are on my chest and both legs.

So I'm looking for any advice or experiences:

My specific questions are:

∆ What age did your Seb K's appear?
∆ Did you get Seb K's one at a time or in multiple?
∆ How many do you have?
∆ How do you manage the itchiness?

Thanks for reading all this.

@HappyDaysAreAhead its Elecon 0.1%.

∆ What age did your Seb K's appear?
First one, I was about age 26, soon after I had chickenpox. They tend to come back at least once in a place where they were previously. I've had them on my forehead & chest & back. Not my limbs.

∆ Did you get Seb K's one at a time or in multiple?
Mine have appeared one at a time, about one every 5-6 yrs (?) since they started. Am now age late 50s.

∆ How many do you have?
Only one at a time. None right now.

∆ How do you manage the itchiness?
I pick at them until they fall off, but mine were only itchy when very scabbed over which takes a while after they appear anyway.

I dunno anything about psoriasis, CRP, exzema. I don't have those. The SK seem to be much less frequent as I get older. I have a few brown "age spots" on my hands, I suppose. I've got steroid cream for other random itchy skin patches (not SK).

Covid depletes bifidobacteria very badly.

bifidobacteria is probably the best anti inflammatory bacteria you could hope to have in abundance in your gut. It generates short chain fatty acids which then signals further to release anti inflammatory cytokines as opppsed to inflammatory ones.

The fact you’ve had a high C-RP shows you have inflammation across the body.

how did you have this test?

the repeated use of alcohol gels is not ideal but maybe you work in a job where it is unavoidable.

High C-RP are seen in people with thr MTHFR gene, C677T. If this is you, methyfolate is your friend and methylcobalamin may help. They will bring it down.

Thanks

Thanks. Would a GP prescribe those?

I had several blood tests over several months. All came back around the same CRP level so GP just said it must be normal for me?

Is there anything I can do without GP prescribed medication?

I just tend to use the antibacterial hand gel throughout the day - every day. I've probably used it 5-10 times a day since it was available to buy.

Stride is a place that does MTHFR genetic testing. www.getstride.com/

I'm not sure I'd be happy with that outlook from the GP, there are too many that fob you off without a real answer and won't go deeper. My aim would be to lower it if possible.

Did they test your CRP because of the Seb K?

As for the alcohol gel, it's your choice of course but I'm not sure using it quite so much is a good idea, as we weren't designed to remove all bacteria from our skin quite like that. It may be disrupting your natural barrier elsewhere on your skin.

If you're worried about sickness etc, I'd be careful not to rub my eyes so much or mouth or nose, if worried about bacteria but it's more washing your hands before you eat, with soap and water rather than a gel that might be gentler and less disruptive overall to your skin? I'm not sure.

https://www.revital.co.uk/products/vivomixx-112-billion-10-capsules?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADlK11nz5-0UmyXD5hhcgcOCE5ltr&gclid=CjwKCAjwn6LABhBSEiwAsNJrjqPv2_Gc6pPZC22q5HLXwIHECah50NBwmKDSpyDzuDTdr5LdT6ntPxoC4dIQAvD_BwE this is vivomixx which is the strong probiotic. It has also been shown to relieve anxiety so maybe it might help with the worry about bacteria.

In fact this single strain bifido here:

https://uk.iherb.com/pr/life-extension-florassist-probiotic-daily-bowel-regularity-57-5-mg-30-vegetarian-capsules/113501?adj_cj_click_id=fa5751f1207911f0839100a20a18ba72&cjdata=MXxZfDB8WXww&clickid=fa5751f1207911f0839100a20a18ba72&utm_content=8280252&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=Redbrain%20Ltd&utm_term=15745320

I take when I go on holiday but you can take it all year round if you're worried about stomach bugs/sickness. I take it to help generate short chain fatty acids and I pulse it on and off for a few weeks and then off. It's good for skin, good for anxiety, good for everything really.

It raises secretory IgA which naturally defends against respiratory viruses so I use it quite a bit in the winter. Mostly seems to work well!

Finally at the GP you can go and ask for a well person check up test on the NHS once you're over the age of 40. Do Google it to find out more. You can have a bunch of blood tests where they measure quite a few things. It's good.

Thanks @TrainGame They did multiple general blood tests as I was feeling run down but nothing specific other than the Seb K's appearing. I attributed it to hormones and anxiety. Plus had a bad COVID episode a few months prior and felt I hadn't bounced back.

My white cell count was elevated along with my CRP so they asked me to have more bloods done 4 weeks later.

2nd blood test: White cell count very slightly lower. CRP slightly higher. Asked me to retest again.

3rd blood test: White cell count lower and just within the normal range. CRP back to the same level as the 1st blood test. No more blood tests offered.

GP said I may have an allergy or gum issues due to perimenopause which would show as inflammation. I have a bumpy tongue which can be another sign of inflammation as per my Dentist.
GP assured me it can't be cancer as it would be on the increase each time, so must be normal for me. N.B. My weight has increased over 2 years.

@HappyDaysAreAhead So I would really consider the probiotics I’ve listed above. They are anti inflammatory and have been shown to work even with high fat western diet.

id open the capsules into yogurt or cereal and make sure some get on your teeth. They will help with the gums. I really like the Immune gummies from Optibac with bacillus coagulans in them. I had very bad sensitivity on my teeth, my molars in particular but it’s all gone. I’d suggest also you use Teepees for between your teeth and floss at night, every night. I visit the hygienist every six months.

Weight gain is really common in perimenopause. Zoe Nutrition is often very successful at helping bring it down without being hungry all the time. I’ve done it and it’s been so helpful. There are some really good Facebook groups (unaffiliated) and that you could join to get tips. You can join even without doing Zoe.

Covid reduces bifidobacteria and this is the one thing that would improve things for you so much, far more than using hand gel. While you’re inflamed you’re more likely to catch things than if not, as your body is already trying to fight something internally so you are weakened.

I hope you can make a few changes. It doesn’t have to be all at once. Just little steps. Good luck. You’d feel so much better over time. Really hope you can do it.

you can look up any of the strains of bacteria online to see what they do. Pub Med is very helpful. Often the introduction and conclusions of medical reports are all you need. It’s helped so much to feel better for myself.

Just adding to a zombie thread in case it helps anyone. I had loads of SK all over my back, plus a huge one on my boob. Mine started in my 20s.

I'd got the breast one checked and was told "senile wart, nothing we can do" which was great to hear in my 20s. So I just lived with it for years.

I just lived with them until in my 40s when I happened to see my back I the mirror and realised it was covered in them. My back was intensely itchy, especially in the morning, I'd sit with a coat hanger scratching away! By now, aesthetic clinics were more common so I had a consultation and they ended up treating them.

I'm not entirely sure what they did. Basically she had a device with a needle tip in it, seemed to burn off the brown sections so she could just wipe it off. She did the cherry anginomas too. It really hurt!! Also I hadn't figured on how badly it scabbed, my back looked like I'd been burned by cigarettes - however it healed after a few weeks and omg what a difference! I now have a nice clear back, and the "third nipple" is gone. I can see a slightly whiter patch where the boob one was but nobody would notice.

Best £100 I've ever spent. They've not recurred yet although I can see 3 very small new ones on my ribs so will keep an eye on them.