DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Damage to the skin caused by chronic cumulative exposure to light (> 10 to 20 years) with clinically different appearance. Actinic keratoses are so-called precanceroses, i.e. non-invasive, early (in situ) squamous cell carcinomas. This view is underlined by new names like SCC (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) of the actinic keratosis type or KIN (keratinocytic intraepidermal neoplasia).
EtiopathogenesisThis section has been translated automatically.
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ManifestationThis section has been translated automatically.
Especially occurring in light-skinned, sunburn prone and elderly people. Men are more frequently affected than women. Actinic keratoses are the first, clinically manifest skin changes in a UV-damaged area of skin, in which potentially further lesions can develop. This is known as"field carcinogenesis".
Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.
Round, oval or irregularly configured, usually sharply defined, brown or dirty grey but also red, hyperkeratotic papules or plaques with a rough, horny surface Continuous increase in size (1.0 - 2.0 cm but also larger).
Tendency to bleed after small injuries.
Increased horn deposits can cause wart-like growths, also from the clinical aspect of the cornu cutaneum.
When the keratoses are scraped off, weeping or bleeding erosions form. However, this does not lead to healing of the actinic keratoses, but after a few weeks to an identical development of the previous findings.
When stroking over the areas, they are hypersensitive to painful. The sensitivity of the areas increases with increasing keratinization (lever effect).
In older foci, there is a risk of secondary infection, resulting in horny-wetting plaques and nodules, which may convey the clinical aspect of invasively growing squamous cell carcinoma.
DiagnosisThis section has been translated automatically.
- Skin changes only in UV-exposed skin areas
- Signs of chronic UV damage (actinic elastosis, poikilodermal aspect)
- Age> 60 years
- m>w
- fair-skinned individuals (skin type I and II)
- chronic (years of) development
- Efflorescences
- grey or brown-grey also brown-red keratotic papules
- grey or brown-grey also brown-red keratotic plaques
- Scaling
- Roughness of the surface
- lesional hypersensitivity when scratching over
- sharp delineation of lesions
TherapyThis section has been translated automatically.
S.u. Keratosis actinica
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
S.u. Keratosis actinica
Outgoing links (6)
Actinic keratosis; Cornu cutaneum; Field carcinogenesis; Kin; Precanceroses in the strict sense; Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin;Disclaimer
Please ask your physician for a reliable diagnosis. This website is only meant as a reference.