All About Keratosis and How to Treat It

For people who are fond of staying under the sun for long hours, they may be at risk for keratosis. The actinic kind of keratoses are small, rough spots that are uneven patches that appear on one’s epidermis, if the person has always been exposed to the sun a lot. Also identified as solar keratosis, this kind of skin aberration targets fair-skinned people the most often, after these individuals have allowed themselves to be frequently exposed to the sun for many years. In diameter, the spots can measure between two to 6 millimeters. In color, the spots are typically red in color and have a rough feel when touched. Often, the spots have yellowish or white scales on top. The trouble with these patches is that they can be painful when they are rubbed with clothing or touched by hands.

People who are afflicted with actinic keratoses may have them on their face, scalp, and nape. There is also the possibility that the spots can develop on the top part of the hands and on your forearms. All of these are places that receive the most sunshine. What is alarming about having a keratosis is that it has the tendency to be precancerous. By saying that it can turn out to be precancerous, we mean that any actinic keratosis can develop into skin cancer. An actinic keratosis is given diagnosis once physicians take a close look at the spots. Because of this, people who notice some sort of unusual growth on their skin must visit a doctor to have it checked if it is precancerous.

No matter how you look at it, prevention will constantly be better than the cure. Keratosis is best prevented when one refrains from staying under the strong rays of the sun. For those that have the misfortune to already have the condition, keratosis removal is a likely solution to the problem.   Photodynamic therapy, cryosurgery, diclofenac therapy, 5-fluorouracil therapy, imiquimod therapy, and the cutting or burning of the keratoses are some of the kinds of keratosis treatment. 

You should visit your physician annually to check your skin once you have been given keratosis treatment. If your previous keratoses somehow look suspicious, it may mean that they can be cancerous, which should be diagnosed ASAP. Finally, my last word of advice to you is that after having keratosis, avoid being overly exposed to the sunshine so that you will prevent the spots from developing more.