If you are fond of being outdoors all the time and staying under the sun’s bright rays, you may be at risk for what is known as keratosis. Keratoses, specifically the actinic kind, generally refer to small, uneven spots that feel rough and appear on a person’s skin, which has been constantly exposed to the sun. This condition (aka solar keratosis) typically appears in fair-complexioned people who have chosen to be out in the sun always for years. In diameter, the spots can measure between two to 6 millimeters. Often colored red, the patches are coarse when you touch them. Yellow or white scales may often appear or develop on top of the patches. Aside from having an inherent roughness, actinic keratoses can make your body feel sore as well as painful when something rubs against them, like clothing or even one’s hands.
People who are afflicted with actinic keratoses may have them on their face, scalp, and nape. There is also the possibility that the spots can develop on the top part of the hands and on your forearms. All of these are areas that receive the most sunshine. The thing that makes keratosis alarming is that it can be potentially precancerous. By saying that it 
can turn out to be precancerous, we mean that any actinic keratosis can develop into skin cancer. An actinic keratosis can be quickly diagnosed by medical professionals simply by examining the growth up close. This is the reason why it is advised that when one notices an unusual, uncomfortable growth on one’s skin, he or she must directly go to a good physician to have it checked for anything precancerous.
Constantly better than the cure, prevention must always be given importance when it comes to skin problems. Keratosis can be prevented and treated by keeping away from the sun. For those that have the misfortune to already have the condition, keratosis removal is a likely solution to the problem. Keratosis treatment can come in the form of photodynamic therapy, imiquimod therapy, diclofenac therapy, 5-fluorouracil therapy, cryosurgery as well as cutting or burning of the keratoses.
You must visit your doctor annually to check your skin once you have been given keratosis treatment. If any suspicious changes appear with your old keratoses, that may be one sign of cancer, something that is best diagnosed as early as possible. And lastly, a good piece of advice: once you have experienced keratosis, avoid excessive exposure to the sun to lessen the chances of the spots to come back.
