Gene changes linked to non-cancer skin growths.

Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a disease that causes extra skin to grow. SK can look like skin cancer, but it is not cancer. It can affect people of any age. The growths can sometimes look like warts. Sometimes SK can be darker in color than your normal skin. It can cost a lot of money to figure out if someone has SK or skin cancer. Scientists in this study found a gene they think is linked to SK. They are using BioVU to look for changes in that gene in younger people to prove it is linked to SK. Changes in that same gene have been linked to skin cancer. Changes in that gene are also linked to a higher chance of getting other cancers. Scientists are also looking for a correlation between more changes and worse disease. Scientists will also look for other genes that might be linked to SK. The results might make it easier for doctors to figure out if someone has SK or skin cancer.