You might be wondering how to tell the difference between seborrheic keratosis vs. melanoma. Although these two skin conditions can often look very similar to each other, it is important to be able to tell them apart. Seborrheic keratosis is a common, benign skin growth that can appear as you age. It may seem worrisome at first because it can resemble a wart, pre-cancerous skin growth (actinic keratosis), or skin cancer, but seborrheic keratosis is rarely cause for concern. Melanoma, on the other hand, is the most serious kind of skin cancer.
Despite their similar appearance, seborrheic keratoses is a harmless growth, whereas melanoma requires immediate medical attention if spotted. The good news is that dermatologists treat these and many other medical dermatology conditions quite frequently, and the chances of curing melanoma and other forms of skin cancer are higher the earlier it is discovered.