Actinic Keratosis - Treatment and Symptoms

Actinic keratosis is a skin disease and the word is emerged from a greek words (ak-'ti-nik) which indicates that radiant energy has produced chemical changes and the word "keratoses" (ker-ah-TOE-sees) means the skin has become hard and callous. An actinic keratosis is a scaly or crusty bump that forms on the skin surface. They are also known as a solar keratosis. They range in size from as small as a pinhead to an inch across. They may be light or dark, tan, pink, red, a combination of these, or the same color as ones skin. The scale or crust is horn-like, dry, and rough, and is often recognized easier by touch rather than sight. Occasionally it itches or produces a pricking or tender sensation, especially after being in the sun. It may disappear only to reappear later. Half of the keratosis will go away on their own if one avoid all sun for a few years. One often sees several actinic keratoses show up at the same time. A keratosis is most likely to appear on sun exposed areas: face, ears, bald scalp, neck, backs of hands and forearms, and lips. It tends to lie flat against the skin of the head and neck and be elevated on arms and hands.

The most aggressive form of keratosis, actinic cheilitis, appears on the lips and can evolve into squamous cell carcinoma. When this happens, roughly one-fifth of these carcinomas metastasize. The presence of actinic keratoses indicates that sun damage has occurred and that any kind of skin cancer -- not just squamous cell carcinoma can develop. People with actinic keratosis are more likely to develop melanoma also.

Actinic keratosis are areas of calloused skin caused by chemical changes brought about by exposure to radiant energy, such as sunlight. The lesions may also be called "solar keratoses." Sun damage to the skin accumulates over time. It is lifetime sun exposure, not recent sun-tanning that adds to your risk. Ultraviolet rays bounce off sand, snow, and other reflective surfaces; about 80 percent can pass through clouds. The thinning of the ozone layer may be allowing more ultraviolet rays reach the earth. People who have fair skin, blonde or red hair, blue, green, or gray eyes are at the greatest risk. Because their skin has less protective pigment, they are the most susceptible to sunburn. Even those who are darker-skinned can develop keratosis if they heavily expose themselves to the sun without protection.

Symptoms of Actinic Keratosis

Following are symptoms of Actinic Keratosis:

1) Flat to slightly raised, scaly patches on the top layer of your skin
2) Lesions on your skin ranging in color from pink to red to brown, or flesh-colored
3) Patches or lesions caused by actinic keratosis usually are 1 inch or less in diameter and primarily are found on areas exposed to the sun, including your face, lips, ears, back of your hands, forearms, scalp and neck. 4)There may be a single lesion or more. Later, lesions can develop a hard, wart-like surface.

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