Actinic keratosis is characterized by single or multiple, dry, rough like sandpaper, adherent scaly areas on the skin. Actinic keratoses are caused by sun exposure and are commonly found in areas with more sun exposure such as the face, ears, neck, scalp, chest, forearms, and hands.
Actinic keratosis can progress to squamous cell carcinoma, which is a type of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
WHAT CAUSES ACTINIC KERATOSIS?
Risk factors for actinic keratosis include sunlight, ultraviolet radiation, and human papillomavirus in fair-skinned individuals (light colored hair, eyes, and skin). It is more common in men, outdoor workers, and sportspersons.
TREATING ACTINIC KERATOSIS
Treatments may include treating individual actinic keratosis with cryotherapy or cryosurgery or treating early actinic keratosis that are not visible to the naked eye with topical cream. The best method of prevention is to apply UVB/UVA sunscreens with SPF 50+.
REFERENCES
Duncan KO, Geisse JK, Leffell DJ. Epithelial precancerous lesions. In: Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th ed, Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, et al. (Eds), McGraw-Hill, New York 2008. Vol 1, p.1007
