Actinic keratosis is the term for the pre-cancer lesions that appear on areas of the body with chronic sun damage. These lesions are rough and scaling. The lesions themselves are not always cancerous but some of them can become cancerous over time. They are a major warning sign of future skin cancer.

Pre-cancer lesions are more likely on fair skinned people who have been repeatedly exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Certain parts of the body are more prone to precancer than others. The face, ears, scalp, shoulders, and upper arms are more likely to have sun damage and they are more likely to develop lesions.

Actinic keratosis tends to appear when a person reaches their forties. From that point, a small number of the lesions can become cancerous. These lesions are called squamous cell carcinomas. Regular monitoring by a dermatologist is necessary to quickly detect and remove skin cancer.

Pre-cancer lesions can be treated several ways. Topical creams like Aldara can be prescribed to gradually remove the lesions with repeated applications. Liquid nitrogen can freeze them off. Another option called PhotoDynamic Therapy treats the lesions with light. A photosensitizing topical agent is applied to the damaged skin. This agent is activated with a wavelength of light that removes the pre-cancerous spots called keratoses. Sun damage and uneven skin tone are also improved with PhotoDynamic Therapy.

Detecting and removing skin lesions early can prevent skin cancer. In addition to lesions, people should monitor moles for changes in size or color, as these can indicate the presence of skin cancer. Moles can be removed by excision or laser.

To prevent actinic keratosis and skin cancer, people should wear sunscreen, avoid prolonged sun exposure, and keep vulnerable areas of the body covered when they will be in the sun for extended periods.

A trained dermatologist will be able to determine if skin lesions are cancerous or indicate an increased risk of developing skin cancer.