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Actinic Keratosis - actinic keratosis picture, treatment
Aactinic keratosis (AK) is commonly known as a solar keratosis. It occurs in all age groups and is characterised by a small, rough spot occurring on skin that has been chronically exposed to the sun. Actinic keratoses generally measure in size between 2 to 6 millimeters in diameter (between the size of a pencil point to that of an eraser). They are usually reddish in color and often have a white scale on top.
Actinic keratosis is the most common sun-related growth. An estimated 60% of individuals older than 40 years who are predisposed have at least one actinic keratosis or solar keratosis. Usually, these people are fair-skinned, burn easily, and tan poorly, as well as have occupations or hobbies that result in excessive sun exposure. Many people have new actinic keratoses each year.
Actinic Keratosis Picture
Alternative Names of Actinic Keratosis (Ak)
- Solar keratosis;
- Sun-induced skin changes - keratosis;
- Keratosis - actinic (solar)
Symptoms of Actinic Keratosis
- Rough and dry textured skin lesion
- A macule, patch, or growth on the skin
- Limited to a discrete area (localized)
- Located on the face, scalp, back of the hands, chest or other sun-exposed areas
- Color gray, pink, red (erythematous), or the same color as the skin
- Surface is initially flat and scaly, then becomes slightly raised
- Surface texture becomes hard and wart-like or gritty, rough, and "sandpapery"; may develop a horn-like texture from overgrowth of skin keratin layer (hyperkeratosis).
Cause of Actinic Keratosis
A predisposition for solar keratosis is genetic. They occur more frequently in fair, redheaded, or blonde patients that burn frequently and tan poorly.
- Long periods of sun exposure
- Light-skinned individuals, the very young, and the elderly are at risk.
What are the treatments of Actinic Keratosis?
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.
An actinic keratosis is usually treated by liquid-nitrogen cryotherapy. Persistent, recurrent,
or hypertrophic actinic keratoses may be removed by surgical excision or removed by scalpel
with biopsy and curettage.
How to get rid of Actinic Keratosis
Trichloroacetic acid or other caustic agents may provide an alternative way to treat patients with extensive actinic keratoses. The excision of actinic keratoses is occasionally a useful and definitive treatment in selected lesions. In lesions suspected of being invasive squamous cell carcinomas, excision may have an advantage in establishing a diagnosis as well as effectively treating the lesion. The wound can be closed primarily or allowed to heal by second intention.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for Actinic Keratosis
PDT may be used to treat lesions on the face and scalp. Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is applied to the lesions by the physician. The next day, the medicated areas are exposed to strong light, which activates the 5-ALA. The treatment selectively destroys actinic keratoses, causing little damage to surrounding normal skin, although some swelling often occurs. Common forms of AK are shown here in the sites where they most often develop. Examine your skin regularly for any lesions that look like them. If you ever spot these or any other suspicious or changing growths , see your doctor promptly.
In conclusion, large, multiple or inflamed actinic keratosis need to be treated to prevent their conversion to squamous cell carcinoma. This avoids the potentially more invasive and extensive treatment of a subsequent malignancy. Regular follow-up visits are usually needed when there are many keratoses.
Also check out Pigmented solar keratosis and Seborrheic Dermatitis, keratoacanthoma, sebaceous hyperplasia
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