1. Adult Skin Problems Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Skin Conditions Quiz
3. Gallery of Skin Problems Pictures

Medical Author:

Alan Rockoff, MD

Alan Rockoff, MD

Dr. Rockoff received his undergraduate degree from Yeshiva College with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His internship and two years of Pediatric residency were at the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, followed by training in Dermatology at the combined residency program at Tufts and Boston Universities. Dr. Rockoff is certified by both the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Pediatrics.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• What is an actinic keratosis, and what does it look like?
• 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
• Patient Comments: Actinic Keratosis - Describe Your Experience
• Patient Comments: Actinic Keratosis - Treatments
• Find a local Dermatologist in your town
• Actinic Keratosis Index

Patients who develop actinic keratoses are usually well advised to have a doctor examine them annually. The purpose of these regular checks is to be sure that new lesions have not developed and that old ones are not becoming thicker and more suspicious looking (for cancer). Furthermore, continual avoidance of excessive sun exposure can decrease the risk of recurrences.

• An actinic keratosis is a small, rough spot occurring on skin that has been chronically exposed to the sun.
• Actinic keratosis is also known as a solar keratosis.
• Actinic keratoses occur most commonly in fair-skinned people after years of sun exposure.
• 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.
• Actinic keratoses are precancerous, which means they can develop into skin cancer.
• Doctors can usually diagnose an actinic keratosis just by examining it.
• The best treatment for an actinic keratoses is prevention by minimizing sun exposure.
• Treatments for actinic keratoses include cryosurgery, cutting or burning, 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, diclofenac, and photodynamic therapy.