Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancerous lesion of the skin and appears as a dry, scaly and sometimes hyperkeratotic lesion, as a result of prolonged and repeated exposure to the sun.
The typical lesion is dry, scaly, with a skin tinge, red-brown or yellow-black. The onset of AD is indistinguishable and it often goes unnoticed until it is diagnosed. AK lesions often occur in exposed areas of the body, such as the head, neck,
back of the hands and forearmsin elderly patients with light skinwho have been exposed to the sun for a long time.
If left untreated, AK can develop into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The majority of patients with AK will have multiple lesions that will be clinically evident in the future.
A patient with AK may need treatment for the rest of his life. AK lesions are the most well-known pre-cancerous lesions in the world and the treatment of patients with AK is the most common dermatological procedure applied to outpatients.
AK is easily treated either using electrocautery, laser therapy, cryocoagulation or, in advanced stages, with surgical resection. To treat it,a specialized topical treatment is sometimes used by the dermatologist.
A combination of therapies is often used. The type of treatment varies depending on the location, type and size of the lesion, as well as previous treatments.
