Evaluation of ammonium lactate in the treatment of seborrheic keratoses.

A double-blind, paired comparison study was used to evaluate treatment effects of 12% ammonium lactate lotion (Lac-Hydrin) against its vehicle on seborrheic keratoses. Fifty-eight volunteer patients, 37 to 82 years of age, were studied for 16 weeks. The patients had a minimum of two seborrheic keratoses at least 10 cm apart. They applied the medication twice daily. The lesions were evaluated for height, surface characteristics, color, and length with the use of 7X calibrated loupe, a template, skin replicas, and scanning electron microscopy. Lac-Hydrin 12% lotion significantly reduced the height (elevation) of seborrheic keratoses, and two seborrheic keratoses cleared completely; however, there was no statistically significant difference in the length, color, and surface characteristics between the study group and the control group. Skin replicas and scanning electron microscopy can be used to evaluate lesion surface characteristics, dimensions, and therapeutic effects.