You are more likely to develop this condition if you:

• Have light-colored skin and blue eyes.

• Have blond or red hair.

• Spend a lot of time in the sun.

• Do not protect your skin from the sun when outdoors.

• Are an older person. The risk of developing an actinic keratosis increases with age.

Actinic keratoses feel like scaly, rough spots of skin. Symptoms of this condition include growths that may:

• Be as small as a pinhead or as big as a quarter.

• Itch, hurt, or feel sensitive.

• Be skin-colored, light tan, dark tan, pink, or a combination of any of these colors. In most cases, the growths become red.

• Have a small piece of pink or gray skin (skin tag) growing from them.

This condition is usually diagnosed with a physical exam.

• A tissue sample may be removed from the actinic keratosis and examined under a microscope (biopsy).

If needed, this condition may be treated by:

• Scraping off the actinic keratosis (curettage).

• Freezing the actinic keratosis with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery). This causes the growth to eventually fall off the skin.

• Applying medicated creams or gels to destroy the cells in the growth.

• Applying chemicals to the actinic keratosis to make the outer layers of skin peel off (chemical peel).

• Using photodynamic therapy. In this procedure, medicated cream is applied to the actinic keratosis. This cream increases your skin’s sensitivity to light. Then, a strong light is aimed at the actinic keratosis to destroy cells in the growth.

Skin care

• Apply cool, wet cloths (cool compresses) to the affected areas.

• Do not scratch your skin.

• Check your skin regularly for any growths, especially growths that:

  • Start to itch or bleed.

  • Change in size, shape, or color.

Caring for the treated area

• Keep the treated area clean and dry as told by your health care provider.

• Do not apply any medicine, cream, or lotion to the treated area unless your health care provider tells you to do that.

• Do not pick at blisters or try to break them open. This can cause infection and scarring.

• If you have red or irritated skin after treatment, follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of the treated area. Make sure you:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.

• If you have red or irritated skin after treatment, check your treated area every day for signs of infection. Check for:

  • Redness, swelling, or pain.

  • Fluid or blood.

  • Warmth.

  • Pus or a bad smell.

General instructions

• Take or apply over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.

• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.

• Have a skin exam done every year by a health care provider who is a skin specialist (dermatologist).

• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Lifestyle

• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.

• Take steps to protect your skin from the sun.

  • Try to avoid the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This is when the UV light is the strongest.

  • Use a sunscreen or sunblock with SPF 30 (sun protection factor 30) or greater.

  • Apply sunscreen before you are exposed to sunlight and reapply as often as directed by the instructions on the sunscreen container.

  • Always wear sunglasses that have UV protection, and always wear a hat and clothing to protect your skin from sunlight.

  • When possible, avoid medicines that increase your sensitivity to sunlight.

  • Do not use tanning beds or other indoor tanning devices.