Have you ever had a small, rough, scaly spot on your face, hands, or neck? It's a small spot that's rough like sandpaper, sometimes flaky, sometimes red. Many people think it's just a growth, and forget about it, thinking it will heal in a few days. But sometimes this small spot can be a sign of something more serious than we think. That's what we're going to talk about today.
Simply put, what is actinic keratosis?
Actinic Keratosis is a skin condition that occurs when our skin is exposed to sunlight for a long time. Another name for this is Solar Keratosis. 'Sola' means related to the sun. So, as the name suggests, this is something related to the sun.
This is when our skin, especially in areas that are frequently exposed to the sun, develops rough, scaly, and sometimes small bumpy patches. These don't develop all at once. They develop over years of gradual sun damage.
Most importantly, doctors consider this condition a "precancer." This means that it is not cancer at this time, but if left untreated, there is a high chance that some of these spots will eventually develop into a type of skin cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma .
But don't worry! The best thing is to detect this condition before it becomes cancerous and get the necessary treatment. That's why it's so important to be aware of this.
Where do these spots usually appear?
Think about where you get the most sun exposure when you go out in the sun. Those are the places where you see these spots the most.
- Head (of those with little or no hair)
- Face (forehead, nose, cheeks, earlobes)
- Lips (especially the lower lip)
- Neck
- Hands (especially the upper part of the hand)
- Hands above the forehead
- Upper chest
People who work in the fields, work on the road, or play sports regularly have their skin exposed to the sun, so they are at higher risk of developing this condition.
What are the nature and symptoms of these spots?
These spots can vary slightly from one to another. But there are some common characteristics that you may see. You may have one or more of these characteristics.
| Characteristic | Simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Rough, dry nature | It feels like you're running your hand over sandpaper. Sometimes it feels better than it looks. |
| Being coral | You may see small, crusty, or crusty things on top of the spot. Sometimes, when you scrape these off, they grow back. |
| Change in color | It may be pink, red, brown, or grayer than your normal skin color. |
| Itching or burning | Sometimes the area where these spots are itchy, or you may feel a slight burning or pain. You may feel uncomfortable even if you wear clothes. |
| Bleeding | Sometimes a little blood may come out when the spot is scratched, or even just scratched. |
| Cleft lip | If this condition occurs on the lower lip, the lips may become dry, cracked, white, and look like a wound that does not heal. |
At first, it may look like a pimple or a small wound that won't heal. So it's wise to be concerned if you notice this kind of change in your skin.
Why do we have this condition? What is the reason?
The main and only reason for this is excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays . We get these UV rays mainly from the sun, that is, from the sun. In addition, these harmful rays are also emitted from things like artificial lamps (tanning beds) used to tan the skin.
Simply put, this is what happens:
Our skin is made up of millions of tiny cells. Each of these cells has a control center called DNA. This DNA contains all the information about how the cell should function and how it should divide.
When UV rays from the sun hit our skin, they can damage the DNA in the cells that make up the top layer of our skin (keratinocytes). Our bodies can repair this damage, but over time, over many years of sun exposure, this repair ability becomes impaired. Then, the cells with the damaged DNA start to divide abnormally and uncontrollably. That's when a lot of these abnormal cells come together and form that rough, scaly patch.
Who is most at risk of developing this condition?
Although anyone can develop this condition, some people are at higher risk.
- People with light skin tones: People with light skin tones, such as white and light brown, have less melanin, the pigment that protects them from the sun. Therefore, UV rays are more likely to damage their skin.
- People over 40: The risk increases with age, due to the greater amount of sun exposure throughout life.
- Men: Men generally work in the sun more than women, and may be less concerned about protecting their skin.
- People with a weakened immune system: People with weakened immune systems due to illness or medications they take (e.g., medications given to people who have had organ transplants) can easily develop this condition.
- People with a history of skin cancer: The risk is higher if you or someone in your family has previously developed skin cancer.
- People living in areas with harsh sunlight: Since countries close to the equator like our country have harsh sunlight all year round, we all have to be concerned about this.
- People who work outdoors: Those who work in farming, fishing, road building, construction, and outdoor sports are also at higher risk.
Biggest fear... Could this be cancer?
This is the biggest question everyone has. Yes, as mentioned before, Actinic Keratosis is not cancer, but it is a precursor to cancer.
If left untreated, about 10% of these spots can eventually develop into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. While that may not seem like a lot, if you have a lot of these spots, the chances of one of them becoming cancerous increase.
The important thing is that if this is identified and treated early, the risk of it turning into cancer can be almost completely stopped. Therefore, the best thing to do is to see a doctor as soon as you notice a change in your skin.
How does the doctor recognize this?
When you see a doctor, especially a dermatologist, the first thing he or she does is examine your skin carefully.
- Physical examination: The doctor will carefully examine the area where the mole is located. Sometimes a special device called a dermatoscope is used to magnify the skin. This examination is not painful.
- Skin Biopsy: Sometimes, if there is any doubt about the nature of the mole, the doctor will inject a small amount of numbing medicine into the area and take a very small piece of skin and send it to the lab. This will help determine for sure whether it is Actinic Keratosis or something else, and whether there are any cancer cells.
What are the treatments for this?
There are several treatments for this condition. Your doctor will determine the most suitable treatment for you based on the number of spots you have, their location, and their nature.
Office Procedures
These are usually minor treatments that can be done at a clinic or hospital.
- Cryotherapy: This involves using a very cold liquid called liquid nitrogen to "freeze" the mole. To be precise, the area is frozen. After a few days, a small blister forms on the spot and the scar peels off. This is a very effective method if there are one or two moles.
- Photodynamic Therapy: In this, a special cream is applied to the spots, and after a few hours, a special light is shone on the spots. The cream makes the abnormal cells sensitive to light and destroys them. This is a good treatment for people with a lot of spots.
- Laser Therapy: Laser rays are used to burn and remove the damaged top layer of skin.
- Chemical Peel: A special chemical is applied to the skin, sloughing off the top layer of damaged skin. New, healthy skin is formed within a few days.
- Curettage: A small instrument is used to scrape away the damaged skin. Sometimes the area may also be burned.
- Surgical Excision: If the mole is large or there is a suspicion that it may be cancerous, the doctor will numb the area, cut out the mole along with the surrounding tissue, and stitch it up.
Topical Medications
Sometimes your doctor may prescribe special creams or gels to use at home. These may need to be used for a few weeks to a few months.
- 5-fluorouracil cream: This works by stopping the growth of abnormal cells and destroying them.
- Imiquimod cream: This works by stimulating your body's own immune system to help destroy those abnormal cells.
- Diclofenac Sodium Gel: Although this is a painkilling gel, it is also used to treat this condition.
When applying these creams, your skin may become red, flaky, or inflamed. This is normal. However, your doctor will inform you about this in advance. It is very important to follow his instructions exactly.
What happens after treatment? Can it come back?
Most of the time, these spots will heal within a few weeks after treatment. However, it is possible for them to come back. Because your skin has already been damaged by the sun, new spots can form.
That's why,
1. It is essential to protect your skin from the sun during and after treatment.
2. Even if the spots are healing, it's still a good idea to have your skin checked by a doctor once or twice a year.
3. If you develop a new spot, or notice a change in an old spot (such as getting bigger or bleeding), see a doctor without delay.
How to protect yourself from this situation? (Prevention)
Prevention is always better than cure. The best way to do this is to protect your skin from the sun, specifically UV rays.
- Avoid the harsh sun: Whenever possible, minimize exposure to the harsh sun between 10 am and 4 pm.
- Wear protective clothing: When going outside, wear clothing that covers the body, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Wear a hat: Wear a wide-brimmed hat that covers your head, face, ears, and neck.
- Use sunscreen: This is very important. Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. Even on cloudy days, the sun still has UV rays. So, apply it generously to all exposed areas (face, neck, hands) about 20 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours if you are sweating or working in the water.
- Avoid artificial lamps: Completely stop using tanning beds, which are used to tan your skin.
Don't just ignore that rough patch on your hand or that scaly patch on your face. It could be your skin telling you, "I've been exposed to too much sun, I've been damaged." When you see a doctor, they can figure out exactly what it is and give you the right treatment. Remember, our skin is the most valuable organ in our body. If you take care of it now, you can keep it healthy for years to come.
Take-Home Message
- Actinic Keratosis is a type of rough, scaly skin condition caused by prolonged sun exposure.
- Although this is not cancer, there is a risk of developing into skin cancer (precancer) if left untreated.
- These are commonly seen in areas frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face, head, hands, and neck.
- If you notice a spot on your skin that is unhealthy, rough, discolored, or bleeding, seek medical advice without delay.
- There are very effective treatments for this condition, which can prevent the risk of cancer.
- The most important thing is prevention. Avoiding direct sunlight, wearing protective clothing, and using SPF 30+ sunscreen daily are essential.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න