Actinic keratosis is a precancerous growth on the skin.
Actinic keratosis is a precancerous growth on the skin.
Causes
• Actinic keratosis is caused by sun exposure. Risk factors for actinic keratosis include:
• Having fair skin, blue or green eyes, or blond or red hair
• Long-term, daily sun exposure (for example, if you work outdoors)
• Multiple, severe sunburns early in life
• Older age
Symptoms
• Rough and dry skin lesion
• Patch or growth on the skin
• Limited to one area (localized)
• Located on the face, scalp, back of the hands, chest, or other sun-exposed areas
• Gray, pink, red (erythematous), or the same color as the skin
• Begins as flat and scaly areas
• Later develops a hard and wart-like or gritty, rough, and “sandpapery” surface — may develop a horn-like texture
The skin lesion may be easier to feel than to see.