How do I know if I have actinic keratosis?
Actinic keratosis can often be identified by the patient through touch in its early stages. They feel like hard and rough scaly patches of skin. The growth of skin is usually small, between the size of a pencil point, and a pencil eraser (2-5mm in diameter), with a rough texture, and can vary in color from skin color to red. The top layer is usually crusty with a yellowish scaling. Actinic keratosis is a sign of severe sun damage, and thus is often seen in close proximity to other signs of sun damage on the skin, such as discoloration, wrinkling, and superficial blood vessels. In some cases, the actinic keratosis may be mildly painful when it rubs against clothing. As presentations can vary, it may help you to view the images of AK from the slide below. If you suspect that you may have actinic keratosis, we strongly recommend that you visit a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis. • In its early stages, actinic keratosis can often be felt as hard rough scaly patches. • Actinic keratosis
