Seborrheic Keratoses is a brown or black growth on the skin and can usually be found on the chest, back or on the head and originate from cells known as keratinocytes. The growth of seborrheic keratoses can have the appearance of a wart and there is no concern of skin cancer with this type of skin disorder.

They can be removed in one of several ways and this can include cutting them off, with electrosurgery, or with cryotherapy, but there is no need to have them removed as they are able to develop skin cancer. The appearance of them causes the person to feel they need to be removed, rather than for a health reason.

In some cases people do have them removed due to irritation by clothing repeatedly and not for vanity reasons. In either case the removal is not a major undertaking and it is safe to remove them or have the seborrheic keratoses stay on the head, chest or back.

Skin tags are not the same as a mole, but are a small flap of tissue that hangs off the skin by a connecting stalk, usually found on the neck, the chest, back and armpits, under the breast and in the groin area. These unlike moles are not at risk for melanoma and appear more often in women, and the elderly, they can also appear with weight gain.

In most cases there is no pain with skin tags, but in instances where they are painful or the person with the skin tag wants them removed it is possible for a doctor or dermatologist to remove them. They can however become irritated and possibly cause discomfort depending on their location and then removal is advised.  This is done with a scalpel, with scissors, by burning them off or freezing them off the skin in the office.

Melanoma when developed due to a mole changes the appearance of the mole, in size, shape or color, and in most cases all three of these signs. There are also moles that appear after the age of 25 that should be seen by a doctor or dermatologist as this can be a sign of skin cancer.

The mole or melanoma can be irregularly shaped, elevated and in some cases itch and they are usually larger than other moles that appear on the body. A mole that itches often or that bleeds should be seen by a doctor or dermatologist as these can both be signs of melanoma.

In most cases it will be advised to remove the mole or possible melanoma, which when done early enough can be done safely.  There are some other signs on the skin that may not have the appearance of a mole, and can instead be red and raised like a blood blister. There is also the possibility of there being no brown color, and instead a reddish patch on the skin.

When looking at moles there are some things to watch for that are characteristics that can be signs of melanoma, these are known as the A, B, C, D and E of moles. They are the asymmetry, the border, color, diameter, and elevation of the mole.

The reason that these are important is that melanoma is a form of skin cancer that can be caused by the mole that is larger than a pencil eraser, that stands off the skin and that has more than one color. There are some signs to look for with the A, B, C, D and E with moles.

• Asymmetry, this when looking at a mole when one side or part of the mole does not match the other side.
• Border, the border is the edges of the mol, this when irregular should be watched.
• Color, moles that have more than one color should be watched and can have colors of brown, black, blue, white and red.
• Diameter, the diameter of a mole that is larger than the tip of a pencil eraser should be watched and checked often for changes.
• Elevation, this is the amount the mole is raised off the skin, or portion of the mole, and should be watched for any changes.

Dysplastic Nevi moles are larger than the average mole that most people have, these are moles that are larger than average and also have irregular shapes. These moles often have uneven color with dark brown centers and the uneven edges are lighter in color.

These moles are ones that can be hereditary, being passed from parent to child, and any changes in these moles should be checked by a physician. These types of moles do have a greater chance of developing melanoma.

Often people that have dysplastic nevi moles have as many as one hundred moles on their bodies and if the appearance of the mole changes it should be checked by a dermatologist to ensure that melanoma is not developing. These are not the type of moles that will fade with age and in some cases are removed from the body. They should be checked often either with a mirror or by another person for any changes.

Moles appear on the skin usually in the first 20 years of life and are usually raised on the skin, with some even having hair growing from them. Moles occur due to cells in the skin that grow in a cluster rather than being spread out in the skin, which is what gives the skin its natural and these cells are known as melanocytes. Moles can darken with exposure to the sun in teen years or when pregnant.

There are different types of moles and can appear anywhere on the skin with people normally having between 10 and 40 moles by adulthood. There can be some danger with moles as certain types can develop into melanoma.

Moles can also disappear with age, change or need to be removed and are something that should be watched from time to time for any changes in their appearance.

There are times when there is swelling in the face or eyes and this can occur from lack of sleep, allergies, or skin disorders like roseaca. One of the things that can reduce the swelling is potatoes, which is something that is normally always found in the kitchen.

To use potatoes to reduce swelling, they are used raw and sliced, with medium thick slices that are approximately the thickness of about an eight inch. The potato should be washed prior to cutting so that no dirt is able to get on the slice that will be placed on the skin or eyes.

Slices of potatoes can make a large difference when laid on the eyes or other swelling on the face due to acne or roseaca. The starch in the potatoes has the ability to reduce the swelling and when the potatoes are cool it can revitalize the appearance, while also reducing the pressure that might be felt from swelling.

There are foods that can be found in the kitchen that can also be used to treat the skin, that can add moisture, help clear acne, rid the skin of blackheads and help with other skin disorders. There are facials that can be made from bananas, oatmeal, honey, or yogurt and can leave the face moist and alleviate dry patches.

Olive oil and sea salt mixed can make the perfect exfoliate for the skin without being irritating to the skin and leave it feeling moist when done. Pumpkin can also make a perfect thing to not only cleanse the skin, but to also fight wrinkles, because it is filled with vitamins like A, C and E. Rather than using pumpkin alone it can be mixed with yogurt or honey. Avocado’s is also one of the other foods that can make the skin moist and when mixed with yogurt it can be a cooling facial that will leave the skin radiant.

These foods both eaten and used externally can help make the skin moist and healthy even when battling skin disorders.

Food is one of the most important things for the skin and for skin disorders, because not only does the food eaten fuel the body, it also helps the skin. There are some foods that are vitamin, mineral and antioxidant rich that can be as beneficial for the skin as they are for the body.

There are foods like citrus fruit, broccoli, cauliflower, dark leafy greens and bell peppers that are rich in vitamin C. This vitamin is important for the skin just as foods rich in vitamin E, like nuts, seeds, olives, spinach and asparagus. One of the nuts that are richest in vitamin E is almonds, and vegetable oil is rich in E.  Calcium rich foods include yogurt, milk, and cheese.

Foods with zinc are known for fighting pimples and keeping the skin both moist and elastic, oysters is one of these is and also known as an aphrodisiac.

Lavender is one of the herbal plants that have properties that can work on the skin as an anti inflammatory, as an antiseptic and to have a calming effect on the body and skin. One of the ways to treat the skin with lavender is to make lavender butter, this is a cream that has all natural ingredients for treating the skin whether it is for sunburn, psoriasis or as a special treatment.

The ingredients needed for making lavender butter are:

• About one cup of shea butter (solid)
• 2/3 cup of aloe
• 2/3 cup of cocoa butter
• 10 drops of lavender oil

Optional ingredients that can be added are:

• Mint
• Almond oil
• Jojoba seed oil
• Vitamin E oil

When adding other essentials to the lavender butter when an oil, approximately 5 drops should be added, and this can be any herbal or oil that is healthy for the skin and when added with the properties of lavender the skin will begin to show signs of health in a short amount of time with regular use.