Actinic Keratosis

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are rough, dry and scaly patches of skin that develop on the outermost layer of the skin after years of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. They often feel like sandpaper or crusts of dry skin. These lesions typically range in color from skin-toned to reddish brown and in size from that of a pinhead to larger than a quarter. Occasionally, a lesion has a rapid upward growth and resembles an animal horn and is called a “cutaneous horn.”

A dermatologist should evaluate anyone who is concerned that they may have developed AKs. These lesions are considered to be the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer and can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. A patient who has a previous history of AK’s is more susceptible to other forms of skin cancer, including melanoma. Melanoma is considered the most lethal form of skin cancer because it can rapidly spread to the lymph system and internal organs.

AKs are most likely to appear on the face, lips, ears, scalp, neck, backs of the hands, forearms, shoulders and back — the parts of the body that are most often exposed to the sun. They usually appear after age 40 because they take years to develop. However, even teens can have AKs when they live in areas that receive high-intensity sunlight year-round, such as Florida and Southern California. Millions of Americans have AKs, and the number continues to grow. In fact, they are so common today that treatment for these lesions ranks as one of the most frequent reasons people consult a dermatologist.