Actinic Keratosis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Solar keratosis, or in the medical world also known as actinic keratosis, is a common skin abnormality caused by exposure to sunlight. This skin disorder is characterized by thickening of the skin that is easy to peel and is generally yellowish in color.
In relation to the causes related to exposure to sunlight, this skin abnormality is more prone to occur in people who live near the equator and people who spend a lot of time in the sun. In addition, solar keratosis is also more often experienced by the elderly.
Some cases of solar keratosis can disappear on their own. But not infrequently, solar keratosis turns into skin cancer later in life.
Actinic Keratosis Symptoms
Symptoms of solar keratosis that are generally seen are plaques or thickening of the skin. This thickening of the skin can be reddish, brown, or yellowish in color and feel rough to the touch. Plaque or thickened skin is usually easy to peel off.
Areas of skin where there is plaque or skin thickening can feel sore or itchy. Skin areas that generally suffer from solar keratosis are skin areas that are often exposed to sunlight – such as the face, scalp, ears, arms, and legs.
Solar keratosis can disappear on its own. But it can also settle or even turn into skin cancer.
Actinic Keratosis Reason
Solar keratosis is caused by years of exposure to ultraviolet rays. People whose work is often exposed to UV rays – such as farmers, field workers, etc., are more susceptible to this disease.
In addition, people with immune disorders – such as post-organ transplants, cancer patients, people with autoimmune diseases, or HIV – are also more susceptible to solar keratosis.
Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis of solar keratosis, the doctor will conduct a series of detailed medical interviews and conduct a physical examination of the patient’s skin. When there is suspicion that leads to skin cancer, a skin biopsy examination should be done.
A biopsy examination is done by taking a sample of skin tissue to be further examined in the laboratory. The results of the examination will help the doctor in confirming the presence of skin cancer.
In people who have been affected by solar keratosis, the doctor may recommend that the person do a routine skin examination. An examination can be done once a year to check for signs of skin cancer.
Actinic Keratosis Treatment
Not all solar keratosis requires treatment. If no complaints appear, certain treatment does not need to be done.
However, if it is considered to disturb the appearance, soreness or itching appears, then some of these treatments can be an option:
- Freezing solar keratosis with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery). This therapy requires a healing time of between 7-14 days. This procedure should be done by a doctor.
- Treatment with cream or ointment. Usually, the drugs used contain salicylic acid, diclofenac, fluorouracil, or imiquimod.
- Laser or dermabrasion. The intense light shot from the laser aims to destroy the top layer of the skin. When the lasered skin area has healed, new skin will grow to replace the damaged one. Similarly to the dermabrasion procedure, this therapy aims to replace areas of the skin that have been damaged due to solar keratosis.
Prevention
To prevent the presence of solar keratosis, avoid exposure to UV rays found in sunlight -especially from 10.00-14.00.
When exposed to sunlight, use sunscreen that protects the skin against UV A and UV B rays. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Apply sunscreen every two hours as long as you are exposed to sunlight.