What is Actinic Keratoses?
 

Actinic Keratoses, also known as Solar Keratoses, are formed in the epidermis. They are also known as Solar Keratoses.  Some actinic keratoses become squmous skin cancer, and it has been used as a marker for other skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma. It is uncertain if actinic keratosis is skin cancers from the start, being the beginning of fully formed Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Mainly affecting fair skinned people over the age of 50. It is estimated that Actinic Keratoses accounts for 20% of dermatologist visits

Detecting early actinic keratoses can be as easy as inspecting your skin and feeling for small areas of roughness on the skin, and often the lesions can be slightly tan or neutral coloured. As they get bigger, they can get redder. Some become thicker, and grow outwards, and are known as cutaneous horn, or hypertrophic actinic keratoses.  If a thickening occurs, it may indicate an invasive squamous cell cancer.  Contact your doctor immediately,

It is found on the parts of the body that have sun exposure, namely the face, legs hands and forearms. Bald men will get it on their scalp, as well as ears and lips.  It becomes more common with age and when it affects the lips, is called actinic cheilitis.  Actinic cheilitis is usually found on the lower lip and there can be white changes (leukoplakia). The skin may develop crusting, scaling or redness

It may be seen as early as 30 years old, and over 80% of people 70 years of age and older will have actinic keratoses