Definition
Skin-colored, pink, or erythematous macule with gritty scale (no papule).
-Easier to feel than to see;
-AK is a premalignant lesion with the potential to progress to SCC.
-Cutaneous horns (15% with SCC at the base)
-Common on the head, neck, forearms
-Prevalence of AK in US 16–25% and incidence increases with age.
–In patients with 7– 8 AKs, the risk of developing an invasive disease is 6.1– 10.2% over 10 years.
Diagnosis
-H&P
Treatment
-Treatment is generally indicated because it is premalignant.
-Tx by destruction or removal, including with topical therapies.
-Individual lesion destruction or field treatment (5-FU 0.5% or 5% cream, diclofenac 3% gel, imiquimod 5% cream, ingenol mebutate gel, photodynamic treatment).
-Caution with cryotherapy unless confident of the diagnosis (SCCs, SKs, melanomas can mimic AK)
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Dr. Scott (Dermatologist), uses Picato (ingenol mebutate) gel 0.015%, 0.05% to treat it. He also uses 5FU and Imiquimod.
[Find out how often to do whole body skin exam on them].