Actinic keratosis

Information on actinic keratosis (AK) is in this cancer prevention section because it is a pre-cancerous condition.  Removing areas of AK will prevent this area from becoming true cancer.  If treated early , almost all AKs can be eliminated without becoming cancer.

AK has other names:

• Solar keratosis
• Sun induced skin changes

Sun exposure is the cause of AK.  AK develops in areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun.  Areas near the equator have the highest incidence of this problem.  Areas of the skin exposed to artificial sunlight are also at risk of AK and skin cancers.

People with fair skin, blonde or red hair, and blue, green, or gray eyes have the greatest risk of developing AK.  People whose immune systems have been affected by chemotherapy, AIDS or organ transplantation are also at higher risk.

Symptoms of actinic keratosis:

• Rough and dry textured skin lesion
• A patch or growth on the skin that is:

      **Limited to a discrete area (localized)

      **Located on the face, scalp, back of the hands, chest or other sun exposed areas

      **Gray, pink, red, or the same color as the skin

      **Flat and scaly on the surface at first, then becomes slightly raised

      **Hard and wart like or gritty and rough--sand paper like.

Treatment:

• Cryotherapy (freezing)
• Electrical cautery (burning)
• Surgery
• Topical medicine

Preventing actinic keratosis is the same as preventing skin cancer.  Avoid prolonged sun exposure, use high quality sunscreens in all seasons.  Damaging sun rays can come through the clouds, even in winter.