How to Remove Seborrheic Keratosis at Home: Step by Step

Reviewed by OcuraLife Skin Experts · Updated June 2026

A waxy seborrheic keratosis growth on skin
A waxy, stuck-on seborrheic keratosis, tan to dark brown.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to remove seborrheic keratosis at home

Seborrheic keratoses are waxy, stuck-on growths that range from tan to dark brown. Once a doctor has confirmed yours is benign, the Ocura Plasma Pen lets you work the raised, waxy cap down at the surface so the skin renews. Here is exactly how to do it, safely.

The Ocura Plasma Pen
This guide uses the Ocura Plasma Pen.

The Right Settings

Tip and power for a waxy growth

SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS
Tip CoarsePower 5 to 7Sessions 1 to 2Heals 10 to 14 days

Stipple across the surface to lift the waxy keratotic cap, layer by layer. A thicker growth is normal, take it down in passes and re-pass after healing rather than digging deep in one go.

These can be larger than other spots. Smooth on your kit's Numbing Cream first and give it the full twenty to thirty minutes before you begin.

Your Treatment

Step by step

1

Get it confirmed first. A seborrheic keratosis can look like a mole or melanoma. Have a doctor confirm it is benign before you treat it at home. This step is not optional.

2

Patch test. Lowest power, fine tip, inside of your forearm. Wait 48 hours and check for any reaction.

3

Cleanse and dry. Wash with a gentle cleanser and pat fully dry. The skin must be oil-free.

4

Numb, then re-dry. Apply numbing cream for twenty to thirty minutes, wipe it off completely, and confirm the skin is dry.

5

Set up the pen. Coarse tip for the wider surface, medium power. Hold the tip 1 to 2 mm above the skin at 90 degrees.

6

Stipple the cap down. Tap evenly across the growth to frost and lift the waxy layer. Work the surface, do not gouge for a root, there is not one.

7

Stop level with the skin. Once the raised cap is taken down and uniformly crusted, stop. A thick one finishes on a second session after it heals.

8

Aftercare. Apply the included aftercare cream and a healing patch, then follow the timeline below.

What success looks like. The waxy growth is flattened to the skin and lightly crusted. No deep crater. Thick growths are meant to take two passes, healing between, not one aggressive burn.

Confirm it is benign before treating

Seborrheic keratoses can be mistaken for melanoma. Any growth that is changing, has an irregular border or uneven color, bleeds, or itches must be seen by a dermatologist first. Never treat an unconfirmed growth at home.

The Ocura Plasma Pen Ultimate Bundle with numbing cream, aftercare and SPF
Everything you need in one box. The Ultimate Bundle: pen, numbing cream, aftercare and SPF.

Aftercare

What to expect while it heals

Day 0
Right after.A crust forms over the flattened growth. Mild redness is normal. Apply aftercare cream and a patch.
Day 1 to 4
The crust sets.Keep the area clean and dry. Do not pick. Keep it out of the sun.
Day 5 to 14
It falls off on its own.Pink, fresh skin underneath. Continue aftercare cream morning and night.
Week 2 to 6
Color evens out.Apply SPF over the area every day. A thick growth can be re-treated only after it has fully healed.

Before You Start

When to see a doctor instead

It is not confirmed Have any waxy or pigmented growth confirmed benign by a dermatologist before treating it. This rules out melanoma, which can look similar.
It is changing A growth that is changing color, growing, bleeding, or itching must be seen by a doctor, not treated at home.
Do not use the pen if You are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a pacemaker or implant, are prone to keloid scarring, or have taken isotretinoin in the last 6 months.

Clear them at home, at the source

The OcuraLife Plasma Pen works the growth down at the surface. A scab forms, falls off on its own, and the skin renews. Adjustable settings, single-use tips, 90-day money-back guarantee.

See the Plasma Pen

Back to all Step-by-Step Guides · New to the device? Read the full Plasma Pen guide · More on seborrheic keratosis.