Polish for keratoses

DEAR DR. GOTT: A few weeks ago, you said putting nail hardener on skin tags helps to dry them and consequently they fall off. Would it be possible to do the same with seborrheic keratosis spots? I have many. Thank you for your consideration. I am an 80-year-old healthy female.

DEAR READER: Oddly enough, I just received a letter from a reader who indicated that she used it for that very purpose on an unsightly lesion. She applied it once daily, peeled it off after her daily shower, and then reapplied a new coat. The lesion was totally gone after several weeks. My guess is that the polish worked as a barrier, keeping the lesion dry and without vital oxygen for nourishment. She believed clear nail polish might have worked as well but did experience excellent results with the nail hardener.
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The trials of aging

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a senior citizen and, of late, am getting many brown spots on my body and arms. These spots are called seborrheic keratoses. Do you have any information or cures that you could provide?

DEAR READER: Seborrheic keratoses are common noncancerous skin growths that ordinarily affect older adults. They cause slightly raised brown, black or pale lesions that can appear waxy or scaly. They are round or oval in shape and can grow to an inch or more in size. Some may itch. The growths can develop in clusters or appear singularly, and most often appear on the head, neck or torso.
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