Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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A seborrheic keratosis is harmless, but a raised one can become irritated, itchy or sore when it catches
and rubs. The usual triggers are friction, from clothing, jewellery, a waistband, a bra strap, a razor or
a comb, along with heat and sweat that make the skin more reactive. The key thing to avoid is scratching or
picking at it, which inflames it further. When a growth is repeatedly irritated, the simplest lasting solution is
to have it removed. Here is what triggers irritation, how to manage it, and when removal is the answer.
What Irritates a Seborrheic Keratosis
Because they are raised and sit on the surface, they are easy to catch. Common triggers:
- Friction and catching: clothing seams, waistbands, bra straps, collars, jewellery, a razor when shaving, or a comb over one on the scalp.
- Heat and sweat: in warm weather or during exercise, sweat and rubbing in skin folds can leave a growth red and itchy, which is why some people notice flare-ups seasonally.
- Scratching or picking: the most avoidable trigger; it inflames the growth, can make it bleed, and raises the risk of infection.
How to Manage an Irritated Growth
In the short term, the aim is to take the friction away and let it settle: choose clothing that does not rub over it,
move a watch or necklace that catches, take care shaving around one, and keep the area clean and dry. A bland moisturiser
can ease dryness and itch. What you should not do is squeeze, pick or try to scrape it off, both because
it inflames the skin and because a growth should be confirmed as benign before anything is done to it. If an irritated
growth becomes increasingly red, painful, bleeds or weeps, have it checked.
When Removal Is the Answer
If a seborrheic keratosis is repeatedly irritated, catching and snagging in the same spot, removing it is
the simplest lasting solution and a common reason people choose to. It is a quick procedure under local anaesthetic,
usually a shave excision, and the options are set out in
the best treatment for seborrheic keratosis,
with the full picture in our complete removal guide.
Common Questions
- Why is my seborrheic keratosis itchy or sore?
- Usually because it is being rubbed or caught by clothing, jewellery or a razor, or irritated by heat and sweat. Scratching makes it worse. If it stays inflamed, bleeds or weeps, have it checked.
- Is it dangerous if it bleeds after catching?
- A growth that bleeds because it was knocked or caught is usually not dangerous, but bleeding can also be a warning sign, so a growth that bleeds should be assessed by a specialist to confirm what it is.
- How can I stop it being irritated?
- Reduce the friction over it and avoid picking at it. If it keeps catching in the same place, the simplest lasting solution is to have it removed.
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