skin disorders
Actinic Keratoses
Introduction
Actinic keratoses (solar keratoses) are precancerous growths caused by long-term sun exposure. Many years of sun exposure can cause actinic keratoses to develop on the skin. Actinic keratoses are rough and scaly and appear in various colors. The diagnosis is usually based on a doctor's evaluation. Growths can be removed by physical means or by various treatments applied to the skin. (See also Overview of Sunlight and Skin Damage .) Actinic keratoses are very common. As people age, they are likely to develop them. Actinic keratoses can progress to Squamous Cell Carcinoma , a type of skin cancer. Growths that do not progress to squamous cell carcinoma may go away or stay actinic keratoses. Growths that go away may return. In addition to many years of sun exposure, other risk factors for actinic keratoses include older age, an impaired immune system, blond or red hair, blue eyes, and skin type I or II (see table). 