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What is actinic keratosis (AK)?
What causes actinic keratosis?
Does actinic keratosis go away?
What happens if you have actinic keratoses?
Can actinic keratoses cause skin cancer?
How is actinic keratosis treated?
Actinic keratoses (also called solar keratoses) are dry, scaly patches of skin that have been damaged by the sun. It's not usually serious, but there's a small chance the patches could become skin cancer. Protecting your skin in the sun and watching out for changes can help.
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Actinic keratoses vary in appearance. Symptoms include:
•Rough, dry or scaly patch of skin, usually less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter
•Flat to slightly raised patch or bump on the top layer of skin
•In some cases, a hard, wartlike surface
•Color variations, including pink, red or brown
•Itching, burning, bleeding or crusting
It can be difficult to distinguish between noncancerous spots and cancerous ones. So it's best to have new skin changes evaluated by a health care provider — especially if a scaly spot or patch persists, grows or bleeds.
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An actinic keratosis is caused by frequent or intense exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or tanning beds.
Anyone can develop actinic keratoses. But you're at increased risk if you:
•Have red or blond hair and blue or light-colored eyes
•Have a history of a lot of sun exposure or sunburn
•Tend to freckle or burn when exposed to sunlight
•Are older than 40
•Live in a sunny place
If treated early, actinic keratosis can be cleared up or removed. If left untreated, some of these spots might progress to squamous cell carcinoma. This is a type of cancer that usually isn't life-threatening if detected and treated early.
Sun safety helps prevent actinic keratoses. Take these steps to protect your skin from the sun:
•Limit your time in the sun. Especially avoid time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. And avoid staying in the sun so long that you get a sunburn or a suntan.
•Use sunscreen. Before spending time outdoors, apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, as the American Academy of Dermatology recommends. Do this even on cloudy days.
Use sunscreen on all exposed skin. And use lip balm with sunscreen on your lips. Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside and reapply it every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or sweating.
Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under 6 months. Rather, keep them out of the sun if possible. Or protect them with shade, hats, and clothing that covers the arms and legs.
•Cover up. For extra protection from the sun, wear tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs. Also wear a broad-brimmed hat. This provides more protection than does a baseball cap or golf visor.
Actinic keratosis is a rough, scaly patch on the skin caused by sun exposure. It can turn into skin cancer if untreated, so see a doctor for new or persistent spots.
Sep 16, 2024 · Actinic keratosis is a rough, scaly patch on your skin caused by too much sun exposure. It can turn into skin cancer, so it's important to diagnose and treat it. Learn about the risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
- Kim Painter
What is an actinic keratosis? Actinic keratosis is a precancerous scaly spot found on sun-damaged skin, also known as solar keratosis. It may be considered an early form of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (a keratinocyte cancer).
Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common precancer caused by long-term sun exposure. It can be treated and prevented with sun protection and early detection.
Nov 4, 2022 · Actinic keratosis (AK) lesions are skin-coloured, yellowish, or erythematous, ill-defined, irregularly shaped, small, scaly macules or plaques localised in sun-exposed areas of the body. Typically, they occur in middle-aged or older men with light-coloured skin and a history of chronic sun exposure.
Dec 4, 2020 · Actinic keratosis (AK) is a type of precancer that causes rough, scaly patches of skin. It is usually caused by too much sun exposure and can lead to squamous cell carcinoma if untreated. Learn how to prevent, diagnose and treat AK.
