Actinic keratoses – also known as solar keratoses – are fairly common, especially as we age. The patches occur on skin that has been exposed to sun, and it may not be serious, often even going away on their own if they are small. However, it’s important to have them checked, especially if they grow fast or bleed, as sometimes they can turn into skin cancer, called squamous cell carcinoma. In people with several patches, there is approximately a one in 10 chance of getting skin cancer within 10 years of first developing them.
The usual place to find them is on the face, scalp, top of the ears, forearms and hands, and lower legs. They may be skin-coloured or have red, pink or brown colouration. The lesion may be…
