Solar Keratoses, Actinic Keratoses or AKs are flesh-colored, pink, tan, or brown slightly raised rough areas that generally appear on the hands, arms, face, upper chest and back, bald areas of the scalp, and even along the rim of the ear. They could present as a tiny spot or be as large as 1 inch in diameter. If left untreated, AKs may eventually progress to skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) over the course of years.
AKs are most commonly caused by repeated exposure to the sun. They appear when, after many years, sun damage causes skin cells to grow at an abnormally rapid rate. Patients often feel a rough difference on their skin before they see any visible change.
Chelsea Skin & Laser will guide you through the best AK treatment options for you. These may include cryotherapy or freezing of the area with a cool liquid nitrogen spray or one of a variety of very effective topical medications.
