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Actinic keratosis
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 could reveal signs of cancerous changes, if present.
Actinic keratosis on the arm
Actinic keratosis on the arm 		Actinic keratosis - close-up
Actinic keratosis - close-up 		Actinic keratosis on the forearms
Actinic keratosis on the forearms 		Actinic keratosis on the scalp
Actinic keratosis on the scalp
Actinic keratosis - ear
Actinic keratosis - ear
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