Should solar keratosis be removed?

An actinic keratosis sometimes disappears on its own but might return after more sun exposure. It’s hard to tell which actinic keratoses will develop into skin cancer, so they’re usually removed as a precaution.

How long does it take for actinic keratosis to turn to cancer?

The length of time for an AK to progress to an SCC was determined to be 24.6 months (95% confidence interval, 21.04-28.16 months).

Does solar keratosis lead to skin cancer?

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a skin disorder that causes rough, scaly patches of skin. Another name for AK is solar keratosis. AK is a type of precancer, which means that if you don’t treat the condition, it could turn into cancer. Without treatment, AK can lead to a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.

What does solar keratosis look like?

Actinic keratoses (ak-TIN-ik ker-uh-TOE-seez) appear as rough, scaly patches that can range from tan or dark pink to brown. Also called solar keratoses, these patches are commonly found on the sun-exposed areas of people who have light skin.

Is solar keratosis serious?

Actinic keratoses (also called solar keratoses) are dry scaly patches of skin that have been damaged by the sun. The patches are not usually serious. But there’s a small chance they could become skin cancer, so it’s important to avoid further damage to your skin.

What causes actinic keratosis to flare up?

Actinic keratosis can flare and become more noticeable with immunosuppression, such as from acute sun exposure or chemotherapy (especially with systemic 5-fluorouracil).

Should actinic keratosis be removed?

If you have one or more actinic keratoses (AKs), it’s a sign of skin damage that puts you at a high risk for developing skin cancer. Identifying and treating these precancerous lesions helps you reduce that risk. Your treatment options depend on how many lesions you have, where they are, your age and overall health.

How do you get rid of solar keratosis?

Treatments for actinic keratoses include:

  1. prescription creams and gels.
  2. freezing the patches (cryotherapy), this makes the patches turn into blisters and fall off after a few weeks.
  3. surgery to cut out or scrape away the patches – you will be given a local anaesthetic first, so it does not hurt.

How do you get rid of keratosis?

Try medicated creams. Apply an over-the-counter cream that contains urea, lactic acid, alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid. These creams help loosen and remove dead skin cells. They also moisturize and soften dry skin.