Solar Keratosis

Summary

Solar Keratosis are red, scaly marks that appear at sites of maximum sun exposure.
Those growing on the ears and lower lips should be treated. At other sites, treatment is ideal but not a necessity.

What Causes A Solar Keratosis?

It is are caused by the cumulative effects of ultraviolet light on the DNA in skin cells and so most commonly occur in fair skinned people at sites of highest sun exposure.

What Is A Solar Keratosis?

An area of skin that is no longer able to shed dead skin cells. The cells accumulate eventually

What Will Happen To A Solar Keratosis?

Early solar keratoses are small bumps about 1 mm in diameter that can be more felt but not seen. About a quarter resolve spontaneously. Some of them grow to form a visible yellow/white scale, often on a red background. In the UK, a solar keratosis will occasionally transform into a squamous cell carcinoma. This transition is probably more common in sunnier countries. Surgery cures these early cancers.

Treatment Of Solar Keratosis

Any solar keratoses on the ears or lips should be treated, as skin cancers arising at those sites tend to spread. Otherwise, treatment is ideal but not a necessity.

Cryotherapy works well for treating one to six solar keratoses at a time. Photodynamic therapy or Efudix cream are better treatments for treatment lots of solar keratoses in one go.

Prevention of solar keratosis

Wearing a sunscreen will help. Two ml of sunscreen with SPF 20 and *** to **** UVA protection should be applied to the face every morning. Sunscreens containing mexoryl are amongst the least white available. A hat protects the scalp and forehead only.