Actinic Keratoses

What Causes Actinic Keratoses?
Repeated, prolonged sun exposure causes skin damage, especially in fair-skinned persons. Sun-damaged skin becomes dry and wrinkled and may form rough, scaly spots called actinic keratoses. These rough spots remain on the skin even though the crust or scale is picked off. Treatment of an actinic keratosis requires removal of the defective skin cells. New skin then forms from the deeper skin cells, which have escaped sun damage.

Why Treat Actinic Keratoses?
Actinic keratoses are not skin cancers. Because they may sometimes turn cancerous, however, they should be removed.

Prevention
Sun damage is permanent. Once sun damage has progressed to the point where actinic keratoses develop, new keratoses may appear even without further sun exposure. You should avoid excessive sun exposure—but don't go overboard and deprive yourself of the pleasure of being outdoors. Reasonable sun protection should be your aim. It's described in a separate information sheet.