actinic keratosis on the nose

This may not be the exact look of your condition. Please confirm your diagnosis with your dermatologist.

What is it?

Actinic Keratosis can also be known as solar or senile keratosis. Actinic Keratosis appear as scaly, rough, flesh colored to pink patches on the skin, usually on areas that see excessive sun exposure.  They typically appear on the face, ears, neck, lips, forearms and the back of the hands. Actinic Keratosis considered a precancerous skin condition.

Actinic Keratosis can reach a quarter of an inch and may even disappear for a time. They may appear red (most common), light or dark tan, pink or skin colored and may be sensitive or mildly tender and may become inflamed or even bleed.

Symptoms?

Actinic Keratosis appear as rough, callous, scaly lesions on the skin’s surface. Although the patches are typically dry they may also present as lesions that do not heal or as thick, horny growths. The lesions can vary in color from light beige tones to pink and dark brown, and range in size from a small dot to approximately an inch in diameter.

Could this be what you have?

A light complexion, blond or red hair and blue or green eyes, or the amount of sun exposure you may have had throughout your lifetime all put you at greater risk for Actinic Keratosis.

People who spend a significant amount of time outdoors because of their jobs or their place of residence may also be at higher risk for Actinic Keratosis. Actinic Keratosis is most commonly seen in people age forty and older.

Treatment Options @ Pinnacle

If you have Actinic Keratosis, the skin experts at Pinnacle Dermatology can develop a treatment plan that is safe, effective and personalized for your health needs and the condition of your skin. Depending on the clinical presentation of your Actinic Keratosis, consideration can be given to: cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen to superficially freeze the lesion; topical creams that work to eliminate the lesion and others.