Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancerous skin condition, which is caused by sun exposure or other sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. AK manifests as a scaly or crusty growth on the face, scalp, lips, or hands, usually including redness and itching. It is most common in people with light skin and is an important …
Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancerous skin condition, which is caused by sun exposure or other sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. AK manifests as a scaly or crusty growth on the face, scalp, lips, or hands, usually including redness and itching. It is most common in people with light skin and is an important sign of skin damage from the sun. Early treatment with creams and other medications can prevent the development of a more serious type of skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma. Actinic keratosis is a serious health concern, so people should be aware of the risks associated with sun exposure and practice sun protection habits such as avoiding the sun during peak hours and wearing sun-protective clothing and sunscreen. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing it from progressing to skin cancer.
3 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 3 articles above have been cited 13 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Actinic Keratosis, linking to each citing work.