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Actinic keratosis

Source: Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: May 1, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.

Context: Stages of Skin Cancer / Treatment depends on the type of skin cancer or other skin condition diagnosed:

Actinic keratosis is a skin condition that is not cancer, but sometimes changes into squamous cell carcinoma. One or more lesions may occur in areas that have been exposed to the sun, such as the face, the back of the hands, and the lower lip. It looks like rough, red, pink, or brown scaly patches on the skin that may be flat or raised, or as a cracked and peeling lower lip that is not helped by lip balm or petroleum jelly. Actinic keratosis may disappear without treatment.

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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice