Actinic Keratosis / Sun Damage

What is actinic keratosis?

Actinic keratosis (AK) or solar keratosis is a precancerous skin lesion that appears on chronically sun damaged skin. They usually appear as small pink crusty or scaly patches on sun exposed skin. AKs are often better felt than seen because of their rough texture.

Do I need to treat my actinic keratosis?

If you have an AK, you are likely to develop more in future. AKs can sometimes progress into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a common type of skin cancer. AK treatment can help to reduce the risk of this skin cancer development.

How can I prevent actinic keratosis?

Avoid tanning beds. Avoid peak sunlight hours from 10-3pm if possible, If not, wear sun protective clothing such as a hat or long sleeved shirt, and apply broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 and above when working or playing outdoors. Encourage your children to wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen regularly when outdoors.