Actinic keratosis is the most common form of precancer in the world today. Actinic keratosis, also known as “solar keratosis,” is a scaly, rough patch that develops on your skin. It often develops on people who have spent a great amount of time in the sunlight. As can be expected, the most common places where actinic keratoses can be found include the back of your hands, forearms, scalp, neck, ears, lips, and face.1
Part of the difficulty in determining whether you have actinic keratosis or not is that no two actinic keratoses are the same in appearance, shape, and touch. They can differ even if they appear on the same part of the body. Some actinic keratoses are sandpapery to the touch, others are scaly and crusty, while others are just rough in appearance.2
If undetected or ignored, a precancerous lesion such as actinic keratosis can turn into skin cancer at some point in the future. Around twenty percent of untreated precancerous lesions turn into squamous-cell carcinoma, one of the most common types of cancers in humans. Squamous-cell carcinoma can develop in many different organs and tissues if left untreated, which makes it all of the more imperative that you keep track of any precancerous lesions, such as actinic keratosis.3
To improve your chances of beating skin cancer, it is important that you recognize actinic keratosis right away so that you can see your doctor to develop a plan to monitor it and treat it if necessary.
Warning Signs of Having an Actinic Keratosis
There are several signs you should watch out for to determine whether you have an actinic keratosis or not:4
- A dry, scaly, or rough patch of skin that is anywhere from the size of a pinhead up to an inch in diameter4
- A flat or slightly raised bump or patch on the top layer of your skin
- A hard, wart-like surface
- The color of the skin is flesh-colored, light, dark, pink, red, or brown
- If the affected area burns or causes you to itch
About half of all actinic keratoses will clear up on their own if afflicted people avoid sunlight exposure, but will often return if those people spend more time in the sun. Picking off the actinic keratosis will not eliminate the problem, as it will just return over time.5
When to See Your Doctor
As mentioned, not all actinic keratoses are precancerous, and some actinic keratoses will clear up on their own. However, you can never be too cautious, and you should always be proactive when it comes to your overall health and well-being.
Therefore, you should consider seeing your doctor whenever you see a new skin patch that looks suspicious and that you believe is an actinic keratosis. Only your doctor can determine whether your actinic keratosis is precancerous or not.
You should definitely see your doctor if the skin patch causes any of the following conditions:
- Causes you pain
- Causes a burning or itching sensation
- Oozes liquid or bleeds
- Develops a scaly or crusty outer skin
- Changes in elevation, color, size, or shape
The Development of Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratosis begins in the epidermis, the skin’s most outermost layer. Under normal circumstances, newer skin cells will push the older skin cells to the surface of the skin, where they eventually peel off. When the skin is exposed to high amounts of ultraviolet radiation, however, the skin cells are damaged, which can lead to discoloration and changes in skin texture. This is what causes actinic keratosis to develop on the skin.
Increased Risk Factors for Developing Actinic Keratosis
It’s important to note that virtually anyone can develop actinic keratosis, which is why it’s imperative that you keep track of your skin for any changes in its texture and color. With that said, there are particular groups of people who especially need to be aware of developing actinic keratosis, since they are at higher risk of developing it:6
- Those who are over age 40
- Those who live in a climate that gets plenty of high-intensity sunshine
- Those who have frequently received sunburns or sun exposure
- Those who are fair-skinned and easily receive sunburns or develop freckles when exposed to minimal amounts of sunlight
- Those who have had an actinic keratosis or skin cancer in the past
- Those who have weakened immune systems due to a disease such as AIDS, procedures such as chemotherapy, or medications such as those used by organ transplant recipients
Be Aware of Any Changes to Your Skin for Optimal Health
When dealing with any precancerous lesions, such as actinic keratoses, being fully aware of what is going on with your skin is key to maintaining good health. Only your doctor can determine if a suspicious area of your skin is precancer or not.
Ignoring a suspicious area on your skin can only lead to further problems and complications in the future. While some actinic keratoses will go away on their own, many of them won’t, and those that do disappear often come back with any additional exposure to the sun. Therefore, it is critical to monitor your skin for any changes and to visit your doctor to determine if any suspicious spots or patches are actinic keratoses or not.
References
1 Actinic keratosis – MayoClinic.com. (2011, January 7). From MayoClinic.com:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/actinic-keratosis/DS00568
2 Ibid
3 Squamous cell cancer (2011 August 29). From MedlinePlus:
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000829.htm
4 Actinic keratosis. (2011). From AOCD.org:
www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/actinic_keratosis.html
5 Actinic keratosis: Symptoms – MayoClinic.com. (2011, January 7). From MayoClinic.com:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/actinic-keratosis/DS00568/DSECTION=symptoms
6 Ibid
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