Our Actinic keratosis Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Actinic keratosis

Definition of Actinic keratosis

Adult Skin Problems Slideshow Gallery of Skin Problems and Images Collection Childhood Skin Problems Slideshow

Actinic keratosis: A small rough spot on skin chronically exposed to the sun, precancerous, can develop into a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, a process that typically takes years. Actinic keratoses occur most frequently in fair-skinned people. Common locations are the face, scalp, back of the neck, upper chest, forearm and back of the hand.

Prevention is by minimizing sun exposure. Treatments include cryosurgery (freezing them with liquid nitrogen), cutting them away, burning them, putting 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on them, and photodynamic therapy (which involves injecting into the bloodstream a chemical that collects in actinic keratoses and makes them more sensitive to exposure to a specialized form of light).

Common Misspellings: actinic keritosis, aktinic keratosis, aktinic keritosis

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• diclofenac, Voltaren, Cataflam, Voltaren-XR - Describes the medication diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), a drug used for the treatment of inflammation and pain caused by arthritis conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
• Photodynamic Therapy - Read about photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT uses a photosensitizing agent and light source to treat cancers (skin, lung, esophageal, Barrett's esophagus), acne and rosacea.
• Rash - Learn about rash causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Common skin rashes include poison ivy, hives, shingles, eczema, contact dermatitis, ringworm, psoriasis and impetigo.

Read more Actinic Keratosis related articles »

Latest Medical News

• Can Symptoms Predict Ovarian Cancer?
• Blood Test May Predict Rheumatoid Arthritis
• 'Ghostly' Drug May Help Fight RA
• Arthritis Doesn't Slow Typing