Treatment:

Because actinic keratoses are precancerous changes, have them examined promptly. Follow your health care provider's advice for treatment.

Growths may be removed by:

• Burning (electrical cautery)
• Freezing (cryotherapy)
• Surgery

Growths may also be treated with medications that cause the skin to peel or come off. More recently, lasers and other light sources have been used to treat actinic keratoses.

Creams such as 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod are used for people who have many lesions. These creams usually cause irritation and redness.

Expectations (prognosis):

Actinic keratosis itself is benign, but it may develop into skin cancer. If left untreated, approximately 1% of actinic keratoses develop into squamous cell carcinoma.

Removal of the growth is usually effective.

Complications:

• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Irritation and discomfort of the skin growth

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if areas of persistent roughness or scaliness develop in sun-exposed skin.