Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/2307.htm

Keratoacanthoma

Keratoacanthoma

Overview

Keratoacanthomas are rapidly growing, red (erythematous), dome shaped bumps (papules/nodules) with central craters. Occasionally, these will disappear spontaneously (involute). Often, they are treated to avoid further involvement or destruction of underlying tissue. They are of concern because of the similarity to squamous cell cancer.

Review Date 7/1/2023

Updated by: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 11/27/2023.