Actinic Keratosis

Actinic Keratosis is a small spot on the skin which has a rough texture. These spots are usually up to half a centimetre wide and appear somewhat reddish, accompanied by a dry white patch on top. They are caused by prolonged overexposure to sunlight and can feel painful to the touch when either fingers or clothes rub against them.

Those who are likely to suffer from Actinic Keratosis will have spent a great deal of time outside over the course of many years whether for pleasure or for work. This often means that those who suffer with Actinic Keratosis have wrinkled skin with altered colour from overexposure to the sun. It is also more likely to affect those with fair skin than those whose skin is of a darker tone, as exposure to sunlight has a stronger effect on paler skin types.

Actinic Keratoses most commonly occur on the face, back of the neck, high upper body, and the backs of hands and arms. Thus it tends to be those areas which get the most direct exposure to sunlight which are affected.

The Significance of Actinic Keratosis

It is possible for Actinic Keratoses to become cancerous, resulting in skin cancer. However, this is extremely rare. When it does occur, it tends to take years from the initial formation of the Keratosis. For this reason, whilst people may have only spent little time in the sun in recent years, if further back in time they were exposed to the sun a lot they can still suffer with this problem.

Actinic Keratosis Treatment

Ideally, prevention is better than treatment, meaning that people should protect their skin. However, where treatment is required several options are available including several types of surgery such as cryosurgery, in which the Keratosis is frozen after which they drop off, creams, and the new photodynamic therapy.