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Actinic Keratosis – Definition and Diagnosis

Actinic keratosis is a premalignant condition that causes scaly, thick, or crusty patches of skin. A thorough physical examination can diagnose actinic keratosis. Actinic keratosis is similar to seborrheic keratosis, another type of skin lesion.

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<p><strong>Definition and Diagnosis of Actinic Keratosis<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>New York &lpar;USA&rpar;&comma; June 21&comma; 2013<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>What is Actinic Keratosis&quest;<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Definition of Actinic Keratosis<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Actinic keratosis is a premalignant condition that causes scaly&comma; thick&comma; or crusty patches of skin&period; This is due to prolonged and excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays of sun&period; It is predominant across commonly exposed parts of body like ears&comma; face&comma; chest&comma; forearms&comma; back of hands&comma; lips&comma; neck&comma; and bald patches on scalp&period; Actinic keratosis is same as senile keratosis or solar keratosis&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Actinic keratosis starts as a small spot or patch on your skin&period; It is flat and scaly at first&period; Sometimes it disappears only to reappear again&period; Slowly it grows into a dry&comma; thick&comma; and rough wart&period; This enlarges and develops over many years&period; Actinic keratosis is more prevalent in elderly people as it develops over many years&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>An actinic keratosis is normally two to six millimeters in size&period; It is pinkish or reddish in color with a light or dark shade&period; Sometimes it is similar to your skin color&period; It occurs mostly among fair-skinned people&period; Asians&comma; African-Americans&comma; Hispanics&comma; and others with darker skin are not as susceptible&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Diagnosis of Actinic Keratosis<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>A thorough physical examination can diagnose actinic keratosis&period; If keratosis is too thick or large&comma; a biopsy is essential to confirm if it is keratosis or skin cancer&period; Actinic keratosis is similar to seborrheic keratosis&comma; another type of skin lesion&period; However&comma; this is not caused due to sun exposure and does not develop into skin cancer&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150171-actinic-keratosis-causes-evaluation&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Causes and Evaluation<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Causes and Evaluation of Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150172-actinic-keratosis-signs-symptoms&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Signs and Symptoms<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Signs and Symptoms of Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150173-actinic-keratosis-complications-risk-factors&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Complications and Risk Factors<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Complications and Risk Factors for Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150174-actinic-keratosis-diagnostic-tests-procedures&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Diagnostic Tests and Procedures<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Diagnostic Tests and Procedures for Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150175-actinic-keratosis-treatments-medications&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Treatments and Medications<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Treatments and Medications for Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150176-actinic-keratosis-clinical-trials-research-studies&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Clinical Trials and Research Studies<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Clinical Trials and Research Studies on Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150177-actinic-keratosis-home-remedies-alternative-therapies&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies for Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150178-actinic-keratosis-prevention-coping&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Prevention and Coping<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Prevention and Coping with Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;health&sol;2016-150179-actinic-keratosis-lifestyle-changes-self-help&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help for Actinic Keratosis<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;theteamwork&period;com&sol;articles&sol;2016-5017-actinic-keratosis-prevention-treatment-remedies&period;html"><strong><span style&equals;"text-decoration&colon; underline&semi;">Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Prevention&comma; Treatment&comma; and Remedies<&sol;span><&sol;strong><&sol;a><br &sol;>&NewLine;Actinic Keratosis &&num;8211&semi; Causes&comma; Symptoms&comma; Diagnosis&comma; Prevention&comma; Treatment&comma; and Remedies<&sol;p>&NewLine;