Actinic keratosis is a skin disorder which is commonly associated with long-term exposure to the sun. It can be quite a painful condition, causing sores in any number of places on the skin. Areas of the skin that are constantly exposed to the sun are at the greatest risk. The nose, ears, cheeks, fingers, and forearms are commonly effected. The lesions associated with actinic keratosis are typically small, red, scaly, and flat.

Actinic keratosis is much more common in the elderly population. It is almost never seen in children and younger adults.

Actinic keratosis is considered to be a "pre-malignant" condition. This means that while it is not cancer itself, it can lead to the development of cancer if it is not treated properly. People who develop actinic keratosis should be followed closely by their doctor until the condition is resolved.

What are some of the treatments available to deal with actinic keratosis? As is the case with many diseases, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Actinic keratosis almost always develops after many years of chronic exposure to direct sunlight. You can limit your risk by always using sunscreen and being careful not to get sunburns.

Once a person is diagnosed with actinic keratosis, there are several therapies that are available to deal with the condition. The first of these treatments is to attempt to freeze the lesion with liquid nitrogen. Your doctor can do this in his or her office. Most of the time, this treatment will cause the lesion to fall off the skin after a few days.

The lesions associated with actinic keratosis can also be shaved off by a doctor with more conventional scalpels. There are some medications what can be used to help treat actinic keratosis. The most common of these medications is a cream containing 5-fluorouricil. This chemical causes the actinic keratosis lesion to fall off. The downside to using this cream is that therapy can take a long time, and it can cause the skin to become inflamed and uncomfortable. Many people do not tolerate this treatment very well and would much rather simply have the lesion burned off with liquid nitrogen.

There is a new treatment for actinic keratosis that is not yet being used by all doctors. This therapy is called "photodynamic therapy". It involves injecting a chemical into a person's bloodstream, and then exposing them to a specific type of light. This combination of chemical and light treatment can cause the lesions to fall off.

Once a person has been diagnosed with actinic keratosis, they should be followed closely by a doctor until the treatment is finished. Even after treatment, a person should make regular checks with a doctor, to ensure that the problem does not return, or that a partially treated lesion does not progress to full-blown cancer. Care should be taken to avoid direct exposure to the sun for more than short periods of time. Sunbathing is a definite no-no.

If you have any lesion on your skin which you suspect is not normal, see your doctor or a nurse as soon as you can. The sooner you are able to deal with this, or any other condition, the better odds you have for a positive outcome.

Learn more about this author, Erich Rosenberger M.D..
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