Actinic keratosis

Alternative names:

keratosis - actinic (solar); solar keratosis; sun-induced skin changes - keratosis

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 wartlike or gritty, rough, and sandpapery; may develop a horn-like texture from overgrowth of skin keratin layer (hyperkeratosis)

• loss of elasticity on sun-exposed areas

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 reveals signs of cancerous changes (if present).