What is actinic keratosis?
Actinic keratosis (AK) or solar keratosis is a precancerous skin lesion that appears on chronically sun-damaged skin. They usually appear as small pink crusty or scaly patches on sun-exposed skin. AKs are often better felt than seen because of their rough texture.
What causes actinic keratosis?
In Actinic keratosis, only the epidermis (the outermost layer of our skin) is affected. Even then, only a part of the cells appears abnormal. This change in the appearance of the cells is due to DNA damage, most commonly due to UV exposure.
Some risk factors for developing actinic keratosis include
- Lighter skin types with a tendency to sunburn easily
- Long hours spent in the sun due to work or recreation
- Poor immune system due to age, medication or illness
What are the symptoms of actinic keratosis?
Actinic keratosis usually is present multiply. They usually appear as small pink crusty or scaly patches on sun-exposed skin. AKs are often better felt than seen because of their rough texture.
How is actinic keratosis diagnosed?
Actinic keratoses are usually diagnosed during a skin examination. Sometimes, larger or thicker actinic keratoses can resemble skin cancers. A skin biopsy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis in these individuals.
How is actinic keratosis treated?
Actinic keratoses are usually treated by cryotherapy. Liquid nitrogen is applied to individual lesions to destroy them. For people with many AKs, topical medication or photodynamic therapy can be used as a form of field treatment. Subclinical AKs, or AKs that are not obvious to our naked eye, can also be treated by these forms of treatment.
How can I prevent actinic keratosis?
Avoid tanning beds. Avoid peak sunlight hours from 10-3 pm if possible, If not, wear sun protective clothing such as a hat or long-sleeved shirt, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 and above when working or playing outdoors. Encourage your children to wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen regularly when outdoors.
