CONDITIONS
Actinic Keratosis
What is actinic keratosis?
Actinic keratosis, or solar keratosis, is a scaly patch that develops on the skin’s surface. Solar keratosis is likely to develop as a result of continuous exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds.
Actinic keratosis occurs when rough patches develop on the skin's surface. These patches appear raised with a tan, red, pink or flesh-tone colour. Solar keratosis is easier to feel due to its rough texture than to see. These rough patches of skin may be found on some parts of the body, such as the scalp, shoulders, neck, hands, face, lips and ears. Actinic cheilitis, another form of actinic keratosis, occurs on the lower lip. Dry, scaly skin patches range in diameter; they usually feel as rough as sandpaper and may become itchy.
What causes actinic keratosis?
Actinic keratosis occurs due to long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays.
You are at greater risk of actinic keratosis as a result of the following:
- History of sunburn
- Blonde or red hair
- Light eye colour
- Advanced age
- Live in an environment where you are frequently exposed to the sun
- Compromised immune system
What are the related actinic keratosis symptoms?
Symptoms include the following:
- A patch of rough skin less than 1 cm in diameter
- An elevated bump on the skin’s surface
- Hard skin surface
- Brown/pink/red patch of skin
- Crusting
- Burning or itching sensation
- New bumps form on areas exposed to the sun (i.e. head, forearms, hands and neck).
What are the possible treatment options?
Typical treatments for actinic keratosis include the following:
- Gels or creams prescribed by your dermatologist.
- Cryotherapy involves freezing the skin patches and waiting for them to blister and fall off.
- Surgical resection involves removing the skin patches but first administering a local anaesthetic beforehand.
- Photodynamic therapy is a treatment option that involves applying cream to the affected areas of the skin and using light to destroy abnormal cells.
Treatment for actinic keratosis, a precancerous skin disorder, can be resolved through various treatment measures such as surgery, topical treatments and cryotherapy, making the process much easier for you.
When left untreated, actinic keratosis can advance to squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer.
There is a possibility actinic keratosis may turn into squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated. However, if found and treated early, you can prevent skin cancer from developing.
Less than ten per cent of actinic keratoses turn cancerous.
