Actinic Keratoses

Actinic Keratoses (AKs) ​are scaly, dry patches on the skin caused by excessive exposure to sunlight. They have referred to as "sun spots" and they can occur most frequently on sun exposed areas such as the scalp, ears, face,  neck, arms and hands. AKs grow on the outer layer of skin and can be skin toned to reddish brown in color. They also range in size from as small as a pinhead to larger than a quarter. Millions of Americans have AK lesions, and they are most common in fair skinned individuals.​

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Who gets AKs?

AKs develop as the result of years of sun exposure over a long period of time.  The more sun you have been exposed to, the more likely you are to have AKs.    Risk factors include: fair skin, blonde or red hair, tendencies towards freckling, and a weakened immune system.

 

Why is it important to treat AKs?

AKs are considered to be the first step in the development of skin cancer, i.e. they are "pre-cancers". They can   progress to malignancies such as squamous cell carcinoma which is generally not life threatening if detected and treated early. In almost all cases, when AKs and all types of skin cancers are detected early, they are treatable and curable. That is why it is so important for individuals with AKs to be under a dermatologists care. Frequent skin examinations are the key to early detection.

 

What is the treatment for AKs?

There are a variety of treatments for AK's, including freezing agent and topical chemotherapeurtic agents.

 

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