Keratosis is a skin disease whose main characteristic is in the overgrowth of keratinous tissue, which appears to be horny. Keratosis exists in a variety of types that are categorized by different degrees of severity. These include keratosis pilaris, actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, keratosis follicularis and hyperkeratosis. Actinic keratosis is the most prevalent condition affecting the skin.
Causes
Known also as solar keratosis, actinic keratosis is the result of exposure to high level or frequent bouts of ultraviolet radiation. Skin or epithelial cells get renewed constantly in the body of a healthy person. These then replace cells which are older, providing also to the body a formidable system of defense against attack from disease. Skin which has been injured by UV radiation loses its natural color, and forms lesions as well.
Symptoms
Oftentimes, actinic keratoses start as bumps which are very small and can be identified by their roughness. These bumps may reappear back and forth during the early stages of infection. Actinic kerosis exhibits color variations which range through natural skin tone, tan, red and pink. The keratoses will after some time change into crusty or scaly lesions, which become visible on the scalp, hands, forearms, face, shoulders, neck and hands, among other body regions.
Complications
Actinic keratoses bear some potential of developing into squamous cell carcinoma and are thus considered as precursors to cancer. Research indicates that life-threatening ailments occur due to spread of squamous cell carcinomas to internal body organs. The rate of this happening stands at between 2 and 10 percent. There are reports by the Skin Cancer Foundation that Keratoses can be harmful and dangerous, or malignant by for up to 10 percent of such cases. The good thing is that actinic keratoses can be removed if spotted at an early stage, before they present the danger of causing cancer.
Treatment
It is profoundly difficult to tell the keratoses that will degenerate into cancer as time evolves. This means that it is vital to carry out removal of all lesions visible. Your skin specialist has many different options available for eliminating keratosis of the scalp. These include cryotherapy or freezing, chemical peel, chemotherapeutic creams, laser therapy, dermabrasion, and cutterage or scraping. Nonetheless, the most outstanding approach in treating keratosis is of prevention. One primary way for preventing actinic keratosis is by avoiding tanning booths. At the same time, you should wear a sunscreen when going outdoors.
Recent Keratosis Articles:
Will Keratosis Treatments Work?
Treating Keratosis In The Young
