Sage Advice Skin Care
Actinic Keratosis: A small red lesion. An actinic keratosis (AK), also known as a solar keratosis, is a scaly or crusty bump that arises on the skin surface. The base may be light or dark, tan, pink, red, or a combination of these . . . or the same color as your skin. The scale or crust is horny, dry, and rough, and is often recognized by touch rather than sight. Occasionally it itches or produces a pricking or tender sensation. It can also become inflamed and surrounded by redness. In rare instances, actinic keratoses can even bleed.
HOW TO PREVENT IT
The best way to prevent actinic keratosis is to protect yourself from the sun. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that these sun safety habits be part of everyone’s daily health care:
- Avoid unnecessary sun exposure, especially during the sun’s peak hours (10 AM to 4 PM).
- Seek the shade.
- Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and UV-blocking sunglasses.
- Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 27 or higher.
- Avoid tanning parlors and artificial tanning devices.
- Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens can be used on babies over the age of six months.
- Teach children good sun-protective practices.
- Examine your skin from head to toe once every month.
- Have a professional skin examination annually
