Actinic Keratosis: A Dangerous Skin Condition

Excessive exposure to the sun early in life can make you look older than you really are. Photo-aging occurs from sun exposure and creates coarse, dry skin, freckling, skin discoloration, leathery skin, and deep wrinkles. 

Dry, scaly spots that won't go away could be actinic keratoses (AK), an under-recognized, very common, pre-cancerous skin condition that affects 58 million Americans; many of them seniors.

Most people who have many AKs continue to get new AKs for life.

AKs are considered pre-cancerous.  When left untreated, AKs may turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. By seeing a dermatologist, the AKs can be treated before they become skin cancer; or with early detection and treatment, the cancer is highly curable. 

So... what can you do between sunscreen and skin cancer diagnosis to lessen your chance of developing the second most common type of skin cancer?

Nationally renowned dermatologist and skin cancer survivor, Dr. Ellen Marmur, MD, talks about AKs, why they are not well known, and how to identify and treat them. She also gives advice on new ways to prevent skin cancer.