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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. Check if you have actinic keratoses. Actinic keratoses patches:
- What Is An Actinic Keratosis?
- What Does An Actinic Keratosis Look like?
- What Causes An Actinic Keratosis?
- Who Gets Actinic Keratoses?
- How Common Are Actinic Keratoses?
- What Happens to An Actinic Keratosis?
- Is An Actinic Keratosis Dangerous?
- How Are Actinic Keratoses Diagnosed?
- What Is The Treatment For Anactinic Keratosis?
- Other Risks If You Have An Actinic Keratosis
An actinic keratosis (AK) is a small, thickened, scaly skin growth which develops on the skin. It is the most common skin condition caused by sun damage. It is caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun over many years.
By Future FamDoc (own work), via WikimediaCommons Future FamDoc, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Each actinic keratosis can range from the size of a pinhead to 1-3 cm across. Their colour can be light, dark, pink, red, the same colour as the underlying skin, or a combination of these. The top of each one may have a yellow-white, scaly crust. R...
An actinic keratosis is caused by damage to the skin by UV light which is part of sunlight. The skin is normally good at repairing any minor damage. However, over the years, some areas of skin are unable to cope with the repeated exposure to sun and an actinic keratosis can form.
Anyone can get actinic keratoses; however, it most commonly affects: 1. People with fair skin who do not tan easily - especially those with blue/green eyes and blonde/red hair. 2. Those over the age of 50. 3. People who work outdoors (such as construction workers, farmers, etc). 4. Those who sunbathe a lot or use tanning beds. Actinic keratoses can...
In the UK, about 1 in 4 or 5 people over the age of 60 years have (or have had) actinic keratoses. It is much more common in places where the climate is sunnier, for example in Australia. They are more common in men, mainly because men are traditionally more likely to have had outdoor occupations. Actinic keratoses are also more common in people wh...
Three things can happen to each actinic keratosis. This is important when considering treatment of an actinic keratosis: 1. The actinic keratosis may regress. This means it clears away on its own without treatment. 2. An actinic keratosis may persist. So it remains stable, not changing but not disappearing either. 3. It might progress into a skin c...
In themselves, actinic keratoses are not cancerous (non-malignant) and do no harm. However, they can sometimes be unsightly. In people who have between seven and eight actinic keratoses on their skin, there is about a 1 in 10 chance that one will turn into a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) over a 10-year period. This is not...
A GP may be able to diagnose an actinic keratosis by its typical appearance alone or using a dermatoscope. This is a magnifier with a light that helps to distinguish between harmless (benign) skin lesions and cancerous (malignant) ones. Sometimes this is difficult and, if doubt exists, a referral may be made to a skin specialist (dermatologist). So...
No treatment
Without treatment, some actinic keratoses will disappear on their own. However, they can come back (recur) or new ones may develop. It is sometimes advised to leave them alone without treatment, particularly if there are only one or two. Medical advice should be sought again if there are any changes to the appearance or if it becomes tender. A moisturising (emollient) cream might be advised to help soften the skin around the actinic keratosis. High sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreen should...
Freezing an actinic keratosis with liquid nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen is a common treatmentin people who have small numbers of actinic keratoses. It is also called cryotherapy or cryosurgery. Liquid nitrogen is so cold that it destroys tissue. This is sometimes used by dermatology clinics. An actinic keratosis can be easily sprayed with liquid nitrogen. It is destroyed and then falls off a few days later. A small scab is left and is gradually replaced by fresh healthy skin. Liquid nitrogen often causes the surrounding skin to blister for a few d...
A cream or gel
Topical treatments (meaning they are applied directly to the skin) are useful where there are a lot of small actinic keratoses which would otherwise need repeated freezing to get rid of them all. Creams, gels (water-based) and ointments (greasier) are available. 1. One type of gel contains an anti-inflammatory medicine called diclofenac. Usually at least three months of treatment is needed. Side-effects may include itching, redness and a rash. 2. Another cream which is sometimes used contains...
In people with one or more actinic keratoses it is a marker that they have had a lot of sun exposure. The most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma, usually occurs in people who have had a lot of sun exposure. So, although an actinic keratosis does not progress into a melanoma, people with an actinic keratosis have an increased risk of developing ...
Oct 31, 2022 · Actinic keratoses are evidence of previous sun damage to the skin causing the top layer of the skin to become thickened and scaly. Actinic keratoses are extremely common on sun exposed skin sites, i.e the face, forearms and lower legs particularly those people who normally do not tan very easily.
Actinic keratosis is a common, sun induced, scaly keratotic lesion which has a very small potential to become malignant. There is a high spontaneous regression rate and low rate of transformation – less than 1 in 1000 per annum, but with an average of 7.7 AKs the risk of one transforming in 10 years is 10%*.
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Actinic keratoses (also known as solar keratoses) are areas of sun-damaged skin. They usually occur on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun. This includes the forearms, back of the hands, face, ears, and any scalp areas without hair (e.g., as a result of balding). They may also occur on the lips.
Dec 17, 2022 · 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.
What are actinic keratoses? Actinic keratoses are areas of sun-damaged skin found predominantly on sun-exposed parts of the body, particularly the forearms, backs of the hands, face, ears, bald scalp and the lower legs. They may also occur on the lips.
