• What is an actinic keratosis?
• Who is at risk for an actinic keratosis?
• Where on the body do actinic keratoses typically occur?
• What is the significance of an actinic keratosis?
• How is an actinic keratosis diagnosed?
• How is an actinic keratosis treated?
• What happens after an actinic keratosis is treated?
• Actinic Keratosis At A Glance

What is an actinic keratosis?

An actinic keratosis (AK), also known as a solar keratosis, is 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.

In addition to feeling rough, actinic keratoses may feel sore or painful when fingers or clothing rub against them.

Who is at risk for an actinic keratosis?

Those who develop actinic keratoses tend to be fair-skinned people who have spent a lot of time outdoors at work or at play over the course of many years. Their skin often becomes wrinkled, mottled, and discolored from sun exposure.

Where on the body do actinic keratoses typically occur?

Common locations for actinic keratoses are the face, scalp, back of the neck, upper chest, as well as the tops of the hands and forearms. Men are more likely to develop AKs on top of the ears, whereas women's hairstyles often protect this area.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Early Cancer Detection And Treatment - Learn about cancer detection - symptoms, exams, diagnosis and treatment for different types of cancer on MedicineNet.com Source:Government Skin Biopsy - Read about the skin biopsy procedure and what to expect if your doctor orders this procedure for a lesion. Source:MedicineNet Rash - Learn about the various skin conditions referred to as a rash. Source:MedicineNet Read 20 more Actinic Keratosis related articles ... Docs Issue Guideline on Screening for Osteoporosis in Men Health Tip: Foods That Can Aggravate Heartburn Health Tip: Good Shoes Can Prevent Falls Hunger Hormone Makes Food Look More Tasty Several Therapies Show Promise for Vascular Depression Health Highlights: May 7, 2008 Virtual Reality Therapy May Help PTSD Patients Some Weight-Loss Drugs Might Disrupt Brain Growth in Kids Cleaner Air May Threaten Amazon Rainforest Researchers Publish Genome Sequence for Duck-Billed Platypus