Actinic keratosis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Actinic keratosis on the arm

Actinic keratosis - close-up

Actinic keratosis on the forearms

Actinic keratosis on the scalp

Actinic keratosis - ear

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Actinic keratosis

Alternative Names:

Solar keratosis; Sun-induced skin changes - keratosis; Keratosis - actinic (solar)

Treatment:

Because actinic keratoses represent precancerous changes, have them examined promptly, and follow the health care provider's advice for treatment.

Growths may be removed by cryotherapy (freezing), electrical cautery (burning), or surgery. Growths may also be treated with topical medications that cause peeling or skin removal, such as topical 5-fluorouracil or imiquimod.

Expectations (prognosis):

Actinic keratosis itself is benign, but it may develop into skin cancer. Removal of the growth is usually effective.

Complications:

Squamous cell carcinoma
Irritation and discomfort of the skin growth

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if areas of persistent roughness or scaliness develop in sun-exposed skin.

Review Date: 10/29/2004
Reviewed By: Jonathan Kantor, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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