Actinic Keratosis & Your Skin

Our skin is the largest organ of our body and performs many important functions. As it is, needless to say, the skin should be kept in good health and condition. There are many forms of skin conditions with various causes. The main cause of most skin problems is the exposure to too much sunlight. In general the UV rays from the sun are so harmful in that they’re responsible for 70% of most skin conditions.

One of these skin conditions is actinic keratosis. This is a condition whereby the skin forms spots which are rough and they are usually red in color. These spots come as a result of spending hours in the sun without any protection. These spots have sizes which range from 2-6 millimeters in diameter. As mentioned earlier they are red in color and are topped by a white or yellow tip. This condition can be found in most people with wrinkles and who have a habit of staying out in the sun for too long. A small amount of pain is involved with these spots especially when pressure is applied when clothes rub against them or an object is bumped into them.

Actinic keratosis has sub types like cutaneous keratosis which is represented by a horn like skin extension which is rough and another like actinic cheilitis which affects the lower lip causing scaling in the area and leaving it looking very dry and rough.

This condition is known to affect anyone though it is mostly seen in people with lighter skin colors. People with such skin spend too much time in the sun and more often than not do so unprotected. People who tan themselves indoors are also at the risk of developing this condition. The results of spending too much time in the sun are discolored, wrinkled and mottled skin.

Other people said to have a high risk of developing actinic keratosis are those who have suppressed immunities; this being as a result of an organ transplant. For the body to accept this foreign organ, the immunity levels need to be low.

The most exposed part of the body is the face and thus it has higher chances of developing actinic keratosis in this area first. The spots will be clearly seen on the bridge of the nose and the cheeks. Other known places for this condition to occur are like the hands, forearms and chest.

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