Actinic Keratosis – What It Is and Why It Matters

When talking about actinic keratosis, a rough, scaly patch on sun‑exposed skin that can turn cancerous. Also called solar keratosis, it sits at the crossroads of everyday sun damage and serious skin disease. Skin cancer, the broad category that includes basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma often starts with these tiny lesions, so spotting and treating actinic keratosis early can stop a bigger problem. In medical terms it’s classified as a precancerous lesion, meaning the cells have begun to mutate but haven’t yet invaded deeper layers. This classification tells dermatologists that the lesion needs monitoring or removal, because the risk of progression to squamous cell carcinoma rises with the number and size of lesions. One popular way to clear them is photodynamic therapy, a treatment that uses a light‑activated drug to destroy abnormal cells while sparing healthy skin. The therapy shows up repeatedly in guidelines because it’s quick, relatively painless, and has excellent cosmetic outcomes. Understanding these links – actinic keratosis is a precancerous lesion, is linked to skin cancer, and can be treated with photodynamic therapy – gives you a solid foundation before you explore the detailed guides below.