Actinic Keratosis: What You Need to Know

Actinic keratosis (AK) are rough, scaly patches on sun‑exposed skin. They often feel like sandpaper and show up on the face, ears, scalp, neck, and backs of the hands. Think of AKs as early warning spots from too much UV exposure — they’re common and treatable, but worth checking because some can become skin cancer.

How to spot actinic keratosis

Look for small, dry, or scaly bumps that may be pink, red, or brown. Sizes vary, but many are about the diameter of a pencil eraser. They might itch, sting, or bleed if scratched. Older people and those with fair skin, lots of sun exposure, or weakened immune systems get them more often. If a patch grows fast, crusts over, becomes tender, or won’t heal, see a doctor — those signs can mean it’s changed.

Doctors usually diagnose AK by a skin exam. A dermatoscope helps, and if there’s any doubt a biopsy will confirm the diagnosis and rule out squamous cell carcinoma.

Treatment options and prevention

Treatment aims to remove visible spots and treat the whole sun‑damaged area (field therapy) when many spots are present. Common options:

- Cryotherapy: Freezing a spot with liquid nitrogen. Fast and often used for single lesions. Expect blistering and scab for a week or two.

- Topical meds: 5‑fluorouracil (5‑FU) and imiquimod cause inflammation and peeling to clear multiple AKs. Treatments last weeks and make the area look worse before it gets better.

- Diclofenac gel: Less aggressive, used for milder cases but takes longer to work.

- Photodynamic therapy (PDT): A topical drug plus light that targets damaged skin. Good for larger areas but may cause short‑term redness and sensitivity to light.

- Curettage or excision: Scraping or cutting out suspicious lesions. Used when doctors worry about cancer.

After treatment you’ll get practical care tips: avoid sun while the skin heals, use gentle moisturizer, and follow the doctor’s wound‑care steps. Expect some redness, crusting, or temporary color changes depending on the treatment.

Prevention beats treatment. Wear broad‑spectrum sunscreen SPF 30+ every day, reapply every two hours in the sun, and use wide‑brim hats and sun‑protective clothing. Avoid tanning beds and limit peak sun exposure (roughly 10 a.m.–4 p.m.).

Finally, check your skin monthly and see a dermatologist yearly or sooner if new or changing spots appear. Treating AKs early lowers the chance any will progress into squamous cell carcinoma. If you want clear, plain info on medications or need help finding a dermatologist, RXMedicin has articles on treatments and safe medication use to guide you.