What is Pre-Cancer?

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancer that forms on the skin due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sun and/or indoor tanning. AKs often appear on sun-exposed areas of the skin such as face, nose, lips, ears, scalp, shoulders, neck, back and/or forearms and are often rough in texture and discolored. If left untreated, AKs can develop into squamous cell carcinoma, one of the most common types of non-melanoma skin cancers.

Treatment

Prevention is key! DSCCA encourages all to wear sunscreen daily and schedule a full-body skin screening at least once a year. It is important to monitor your skin regularly. You should look for anything new, changing or unusual on both sun-exposed and sun-protected skin. When you notice a change or a possible AK, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to have the area checked. There are many forms of treatment and therapies that can be used to treat AKs prior to turning into skin cancer.

protecting your skin with sunscreen

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Our team provides thoughtful, expert care for all your skin health needs. We are proud to offer the most advanced general, surgical and cosmetic dermatological services in the Augusta area. Your best skin awaits.

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