Actinic keratosis
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| Actinic keratosis Classification and external resources | |
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| Actinic keratosis. Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology | |
| ICD-10 | L57.0 |
| ICD-9 | 702.0 |
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Ongoing Trials on Actinic keratosis at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Actinic keratosis Clinical Trials on Actinic keratosis at Google
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US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Actinic keratosis NICE Guidance on Actinic keratosis
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Actinic keratosis (also called solar keratosis, or AK) is a premalignant condition of thick, scaly, or crusty patches of skin. It is most common in fair-skinned people who are frequently exposed to the sun, because their pigment isn't very protective. It usually is accompanied by solar damage. Since some of these pre-cancers progress to squamous cell carcinoma, they should be treated.
When skin is exposed to the sun constantly, thick, scaly, or crusty bumps appear. The scaly or crusty part of the bump is dry and rough. The growths start out as flat scaly areas, and later grow into a tough, wart-like area.
An actinic keratosis site commonly ranges in between 2 to 6 millimeters, and can be dark or light, tan, pink, red, a combination of all these, or the same pigment of one's skin. It may appear on any sun-exposed area, such as the face, ears, neck, scalp, chest, back of hands, forearms, lips etc.
Prevention
Preventative measures recommended for AK are similar to those for skin cancer:
- Not staying in the sun for long periods of time without protection (e.g.:sunscreen, clothing, hats).
- Frequently applying powerful sunscreens with SPF ratings greater than 15 and that also block both UVA and UVB light.
- Using sunscreen even in winter sun exposure.
- Wearing sun protective clothing such as hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants.
- Avoiding sun exposure during noon hours is very helpful because ultraviolet light is the most powerful at that time.
Diagnosis
Doctors can usually identify AK by doing a thorough examination. A biopsy may be necessary when the keratosis is large and/or thick, to make sure that the bump is a keratosis and not a skin cancer. Seborrheic keratoses are other bumps that appear in groups like the actinic keratosis but are not caused by sun exposure, and are not related to skin cancers. Seborrheic keratoses may be mistaken for an actinic keratosis.
Treatment
Various modalities are employed in the treatment of actinic keratosis:
- Cryosurgery, e.g. with liquid nitrogen, by "freezing off" the AKs.
- 5-fluorouracil (a chemotherapy agent): a cream that contains this medication causes AKs to become red and inflamed before they fall off.
- Photodynamic therapy: this new therapy involves injecting a chemical into the bloodstream, which makes AKs more sensitive to any form of light.
- Electrocautery: burning off AKs with electricity.
- Immunotherapy: topical treatment with imiquimod (Aldara™), an immune enhancing agent
- Different forms of surgery.
Regular follow-up after treatment is advised by many doctors. The regular checks are to make sure new bumps have not developed and that old ones haven't become thicker and/or have skin disease.
Experimental treatments
As of 2008 a company in Australia named Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited is performing clinical trials with a melanocyte-stimulating hormone named melanotan (which they refer to as CUV1647) for actinic keratosis in organ transplant patients.[1]
External links
- American Academy of Dermatology
- American Osteopathic College of Dermatology
- National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health
- Actinic Keratosis photo library at Dermnet
- Medicinenet's article on Actinic Keratosis
- Information on Actinic Keratosis from The Skin Cancer Foundation
References
Additional Resources
- Abel EA (1989). "Cutaneous manifestations of immunosuppression in organ transplant recipients". J Am Acad Dermatol 21 (2 Pt 1): 167-79. PMID 2671063.
- Fitzpatrick TB (1988). "The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI". Arch Dermatol 124 (6): 869-71. PMID 3377516.
- Glogau RG (2000). "The risk of progression to invasive disease". J Am Acad Dermatol 42 (1 Pt 2): 23-4. PMID 10607353.
- Gordon D, Silverstone H. (1969). "The biologic effects of ultraviolet radiation", in Ubach F, editor: The Biologic Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation. Oxford (UK): Pergamon Press, p. 625.
- Lookingbill DP, Lookingbill GL, Leppard B (1995). "Actinic damage and skin cancer in albinos in northern Tanzania: findings in 164 patients enrolled in an outreach skin care program". J Am Acad Dermatol 32 (4): 653-8. PMID 7896957.
- Marshall V (1974). "Premalignant and malignant skin tumours in immunosuppressed patients". Transplantation 17 (3): 272-5. PMID 4592184.
- Scotto J, Fears TR, Fraumeni JF. Incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States. Publication No (NIH) 82-2433. Washington, DC: US Dept Health and Human Services; 1983.
de:Aktinische Keratose
nl:Actinische keratose
ja:日光角化症
WikiDoc Research Resources for Actinic keratosis | |
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| Articles on Actinic keratosis | Most recent articles on Actinic keratosis • Most cited articles on Actinic keratosis • Review articles on Actinic keratosis • Articles on Actinic keratosis in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ |
| Media (Slides, Video, Images, MP3) on Actinic keratosis | Powerpoint slides on Actinic keratosis • Images of Actinic keratosis • Photos of Actinic keratosis • Podcasts & MP3s on Actinic keratosis • Videos on Actinic keratosis |
| Evidence Based Medicine Regarding Actinic keratosis | Cochrane Collaboration on Actinic keratosis • Bandolier on Actinic keratosis • TRIP on Actinic keratosis |
| Cost Effectiveness of Actinic keratosis | Cost Effectiveness of Actinic keratosis |
| Clinical Trials Involving Actinic keratosis | Ongoing Trials on Actinic keratosis at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Actinic keratosis • Clinical Trials on Actinic keratosis at Google |
| Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Actinic keratosis | US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Actinic keratosis • NICE Guidance on Actinic keratosis • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Actinic keratosis • CDC on Actinic keratosis |
| Textbook Information on Actinic keratosis | Books and Textbook Information on Actinic keratosis |
| Pharmacology Resources on Actinic keratosis | Dosing of Actinic keratosis • Drug interactions with Actinic keratosis • Side effects of Actinic keratosis • Allergic reactions to Actinic keratosis • Overdose information on Actinic keratosis • Carcinogenicity information on Actinic keratosis • Actinic keratosis in pregnancy • Pharmacokinetics of Actinic keratosis • |
| Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Actinic keratosis | Genetics of Actinic keratosis • Pharmacogenomics of Actinic keratosis • Proteomics of Actinic keratosis |
| Newstories on Actinic keratosis | Actinic keratosis in the news • Be alerted to news on Actinic keratosis • News trends on Actinic keratosis |
| Commentary on Actinic keratosis | Blogs on Actinic keratosis |
| Patient Resources on Actinic keratosis | Patient resources on Actinic keratosis • Discussion groups on Actinic keratosis • Patient Handouts on Actinic keratosis • Directions to Hospitals Treating Actinic keratosis • Risk calculators and risk factors for Actinic keratosis |
| Healthcare Provider Resources on Actinic keratosis | Symptoms of Actinic keratosis • Causes & Risk Factors for Actinic keratosis • Diagnostic studies for Actinic keratosis • Treatment of Actinic keratosis |
| Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Actinic keratosis | CME Programs on Actinic keratosis |
| International Resources on Actinic keratosis | Actinic keratosis en Espanol • Actinic keratosis en Francais |
| Business Resources on Actinic keratosis | Actinic keratosis in the Marketplace • Patents on Actinic keratosis |
| Informatics Resources on Actinic keratosis | List of terms related to Actinic keratosis |
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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
