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Dear Ann

I am assuming you are talking about seborrhoeic keratoses (AKA seborrhoeic warts). These are brown or dark marks on the skin that can be either flat or raised, rough and crusty. They are entirely harmless.

Unfortunately creams or over the counter treatments will not clear these. They may help with the dryness or the roughness of the lesions but will not remove them.

Treatments that do work include cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen) or surgically removing the lesions- both are strighforward procdures. These will need to be performed by a doctor or a specialist nurse.

If you have pigmentary change on the skin then using a Retinol (which can be bought over the counter) at night and sun block during the day may help.

I hope that helps.