Early Signs Of Keratosis
Keratosis is generally characterized as the overgrowth of keratin in the skin. When your skin is repeatedly exposed to the sun, it is likely that some form of keratosis will be triggered. Other than that, there can be cases where the cause of this problem is from using tanning beds. To be specific, keratosis as a general term may refer to its different types, of which there are actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, and keratosis pilaris.
Among these three kinds of keratosis, the most dangerous type is actinic keratosis. It can be a precancerous condition which means leaving actinic keratosis untreated can lead to skin cancer. Those who are very often out in the open are the key candidates to this kind of keratosis. The areas of the body that are regularly overexposed to the heat of the sun are affected by this kind of condition most commonly the hands, back, ears, nose & legs.
Seborrheic keratosis is distinguished by a brown growth or a waxy lump on the surface of the skin. These bumps and growths which appear on the skin of an affected individual are benign.
Finally, keratosis pilaris is the kind of keratosis which affects the hair follicles. The most common area affected by this type of keratosis is the arms.
All of these types of keratosis can be treated, but first you must diagnose which type you are suffering from. Any changes to the skin could be an early sign of keratosis. You must be vigilent when you are dealing with skin conditions. A danger sign that you may see on your skin is its being damaged as evident with scaling, outlining and crusting. Multiple spots may also be another sign especially for the body parts that are usually exposed to the sun. Having these patches may appear as normal dryness of the skin but if it persists it could be an early sign of keratosis.
The spots may be red, pink, brown or gray in color, and become thicker if left without any treatment Even if there is no pain involved, the thickening of the spots may be a sign of the problems which keratosis has in store. Patients who have this skin condition usually have rough skin. When you touch your skin, compare it to how it felt before; and keep looking for further changes.
If you take part in outdoor activities and exposure to the sun is unavoidable, you should always use a high factor sunscreen or a sun block.
If you have troublesome skin spots, remember that it may be an early sign of keratosis. Besides inspecting your skin regularly, always ask a doctor to check a new lesion, & having an annual check up is a good idea.
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