Actinic keratosis

Acti­nic kera­to­sis is a rough, firm­ly adher­ent skin chan­ge („like sand­pa­per“), often red­dish or skin-colo­red, which occurs par­ti­cu­lar­ly in sun-expo­sed are­as. It is con­side­red a com­mon pre­cur­sor to light skin can­cer and main­ly affects peo­p­le over the age of 50, espe­ci­al­ly tho­se with high UV expo­sure. Ear­ly detec­tion is important becau­se chan­ges can deve­lop fur­ther. If new, gro­wing or per­ma­nent­ly rough are­as appear, a der­ma­to­lo­gi­cal exami­na­ti­on should be car­ri­ed out.