What are pre-cancer skin lesions?

Pre-cancers or Actinic keratosis is a small, rough and raised area that appears on skin that has been exposed to the sun over a long period of time, and can ultimately develop into skin cancer.  These are usually found on the face, scalp, back of the hands, chest, or other sun-exposed areas, and may appear gray, pink, red or the same color as the skin with a white or yellow scale on top. They begin as flat and scaly areas and later develop into hard, wart-like, rough, and “sandpapery” surfaces. Actinic keratosis most common in older adults and seniors

Do actinic keratosis lead to Melanoma?

While Actinic keratosis may lead to skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinomas, they do not turn into melanomas. However, it is important to remember that people with Actinic keratosis spots may be more susceptible to melanomas because of  having more sun exposure and ultimately more sun damage. The best way to prevent pre-cancerous Actinic keratosis is to wear sun screen daily,  protective clothing, hats, and minimize you time in the sun.

To learn more about Actinic keratosis, contact our office today!