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.
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, minimize your time in the sun, and have regular skin exams because skin cancer has a 90% cure rate if caught early! At Judith Crowell, MD and Associates we have the only, all inclusive skin cancer treatment center in the Miami area!
