The Most Common Pre-Cancer: Actinic Keratosis

I am going to write a series of blogs everyday concerning the different types and forms of skin cancer. I have chosen to write about Actinic Keratosis first, as it is considered to be the most common pre-cancerous lesion.  Actinic Keratosis, also known as solar keratoses are scaly lesions that are caused by UV rays from the sun.  Keratoses usually form on areas that are exposed to the sun, such as your face or the back of your hands. They resemble warts, as they are rough in texture and are raised up from the skin.  Their coloring can vary from flesh-toned to pink and red.  If Actinic Keratosis is not treated, it can eventually advance into squamous cell carcinoma, which is the second most common form of skin cancer, behind melanoma.  Individuals at risk include those with fair skin, blond or red hair, and those with green, blue or grey eyes.  An interesting fact about Actinic Keratosis is that the location in which you live matters, as individuals living closer to the equator are more likely to have Actinic Keratoses. Cases of Actinic Keratoses are higher among men, as they usually use less sun protection then women do, and spend more time in the sun. Some scientists and experts believe that Actinic Keratoses are actually the earliest form of squamous cell carcinoma.  A staggering 58 million Americans are estimated to have Actinic Keratoses, which is extremely scary.  My Dad has had quite a few Actinic Keratoses removed from his back, as he recalls being so severely sunburned, that he had blisters the size of quarters all over his back.  The best way to prevent Actinic Keratoses from forming is to protect yourself from the sun! This includes wearing sunscreen, cover-up clothing, and staying out of the sun during peak hours, which are considered to be 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Make sure that your sunscreen is broad spectrum (protecting against both UVA and UVB rays). I'm not going to get into too much about sunscreen in this blog, as I am going to write an entire blog about sunscreens; which ones are safe, and which ones should be avoided.  I am also going to include pictures in some of my blogs, that way you can all see what these pre-cancerous lesions look like. Some of the photos may be a little graphic, so I will apologize in advance!