Actinic keratosis

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a form of sun damage and the most common potential precursor to skin cancer. This skin abnormality is particularly common in older men and women with a light skin type, who have been in the sun a lot professionally or recreationally. In fact, AK is caused by sun damage from exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. AK is sometimes so small you can hardly see it, but it feels like running a finger over sandpaper.

What does actinic keratosis look like?
Actinic keratosis often turns skin-coloured to reddish-brown with raised areas and a rough, crusty surface. This is because the literal translation of actinic keratosis means sun-induced cornification of the skin. The crust is often white in colour, but can also be yellow or brown. The spots are often a few millimetres to centimetres in size. They usually show no symptoms, sometimes a distressing or itching sensation. This skin abnormality is often seen on the face, backs of hands, arms, legs, décolleté, auricle or, in balding men, on the scalp. There are usually multiple AKs on the skin.

How dangerous is actinic keratosis?
If AK is not treated, it can develop into skin cancer, usually squamous cell carcinoma. Malignant AK skin patches are characterised by inflammation, hardening, diameter larger than 1cm, rapid growth, easy bleeding and redness and ulcers.

How is actinic keratosis treated?
Because of the risk of developing skin cancer, it is advised to treat all AK spots. This is usually done by cryotherapy (ice-cold liquid) or certain creams by the specialist. You cannot treat actinic keratosis yourself. What you can do is preventively protect yourself well from the sun by using sunscreen of at least factor 30 and preferably factor 50.

Example of actinic keratosis