All About Keratosis and How to Treat It

If you are fond of being outdoors all the time and staying under the sun’s bright rays, you may be at risk for what is known as keratosis. Actinic keratoses refer to small patches which appear on one’s skin characterized by being rough or uneven and are caused by over-exposure to the sun. This condition (aka solar keratosis) typically appears in fair-complexioned people who have chosen to be out in the sun always for years. Every spot has a dimension from 2-6 mm in diameter. Often colored red, the spots are coarse when you touch them. Scales that are yellow or white may frequently show up on the surface of the patches. The problem with keratoses is that they can cause pain when clothing rubs on them or if you touch them with your hand.

The affected areas on the epidermis are usually the face, scalp, and nape. There is also the possibility that the patches can develop on the top part of the hands and on your forearms. These are all the places which are the most exposed when one ventures outside under the strong sunshine. Potentially precancerous, keratosis often causes alarm to the affected person. Precancerous means that any actinic keratosis can become skin cancer. An actinic keratosis is diagnosed by doctors by a close examination of the patches. This is why one must see a doctor immediately when patches show up on your epidermis to see if they precancerous or not.

No matter how you look at it, prevention will always be better than the cure. Keratosis can be prevented and treated by keeping away from the sun. keratosis removal is the answer for those people who already have the skin condition.  Keratosis treatment can come in the form of photodynamic therapy, imiquimod therapy, diclofenac therapy, 5-fluorouracil therapy, cryosurgery as well as cutting or burning of the keratoses.  

You must visit your doctor annually to check your skin once you have been given keratosis treatment. If any suspicious changes appear with your old keratoses, that may be one sign of cancer, something that is best diagnosed as early as possible. Finally, my last word of advice to you is that after having keratosis, avoid being overly exposed to the sun so that you will prevent the patches from developing more.