Manipal, India: Hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) at 30% can be used as a chemical cauterant for seborrheic keratoses (SKs) with minimal side effects, reveals a recent study published in the International Journal of Dermatology.
Seborrheic keratoses are common benign skin lesions that affect people from middle age to the elderly. It commonly occurs on the body's exposed areas and can be a cause of cosmetic concern.

40% H2 O2 was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in 2019 for the treatment of raised SKs. H2O2 at the concentration of 40% is difficult to procure. Further, H202 action and utility at 30% are still not explored. As at 30% concentration, hydrogen peroxide can serve as a relatively inexpensive modality of SKs treatment, Manasa Narayan Kayarkatte and Punya Suvarna from Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India, aimed to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of 30% H2O2 as a chemical cauterant in SKs.
For this purpose, the researchers used 30% H2O2 methodically for the treatment of SKs. They postoperatively assessed the lesion thickness, patient satisfaction, and side effects like itching, edema, burning, crusting, erosion, vesiculation, ulceration, and pigmentary changes.
Using a toothpick, H2 O2 was gently applied over the lesions for 20 seconds and the surrounding skin was protected by using petroleum jelly. Patients were followed at weekly intervals with a repeated application at 2 weeks for persistent lesions.
The study revealed the following findings:
Complete clearance was noted in 25 (49%) lesions, after a single session.
Five (9%) lesions responded poorly. Patient satisfaction was excellent with 34 (66.7%) lesions.
Side effects noted were burning, pruritus, erythema, edema, and crusting. However, none of them was severe. Dryness, vesiculation, and scarring were reported by none.
To conclude, H2O2 30% can be used as a chemical cauterant with minimal side effects.
Reference:
The study titled, "Utility of 30% hydrogen peroxide in the treatment of seborrheic keratosis," was published in the International Journal of Dermatology.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.16096