Sign in  |  Register

Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Ency. home > Disease > A > Actinic keratosis

Actinic keratosis    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Solar keratosis; Sun-induced skin changes - keratosis; Keratosis - actinic (solar)

Symptoms

  • Rough and dry textured skin lesion
  • A macule, patch, or growth on the skin
    • Limited to a discrete area (localized)
    • Located on the face, scalp, back of the hands, chest or other sun-exposed areas
    • Color gray, pink, red (erythematous), or the same color as the skin
    • Surface is initially flat and scaly, then becomes slightly raised
    • Surface texture becomes hard and wart-like or gritty, rough, and "sandpapery"; may develop a horn-like texture from overgrowth of skin keratin layer (hyperkeratosis)
Note: The skin lesion may be easier to feel than to see.

Signs and Tests

The health care provider bases the diagnosis on the appearance of the skin growth.

A skin biopsy reveals signs of cancerous changes (if present).

Ency. home > Disease > A > Actinic keratosis

[an error occurred while processing this directive]