Dermnet Videos
Nonmelanoma skin cancers Videos
- Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome
- Mohs’s Micrographic Surgery
- Sclerosing or Morpheaform Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Skin Cancer Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Skin Cancer Basal Cell Carcinoma Histology
- Skin Cancer Basal Cell Carcinoma Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Skin Cancer Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment
- Skin Cancer Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Skin Cancer Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Definition and Description
- Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Erythrodermic stage (Sezary syndrome)
- Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Hematology and pathology
- Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Patch Stage
- Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Plaque stage
- Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Stages
- Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Treatment
- Skin Cancer Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Tumor stage
- Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Appearance
- Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Keratoacanthoma Variant
- Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Arms and Legs
- Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Relationship to HPV
- Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Transplant Patients
- Skin Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment
Video Topics
Actinic Keratosis Appearance
Actinic keratoses initially appear as poorly defined areas of redness with telangiectasias with the skin surface becoming slightly rough. Over time, the lesions become better defined, with thin, firm, transparent scale. The scale eventually thickens, becomes adherent and turns light yellow. A well-developed actinic keratosis can sometimes be detected easier with palpation than examination. Patients will point out advanced lesions to the physician.
Lesions slowly become thicker over months or years. Hypertrophic actinic keratoses are difficult to distinguish from squamous cell carcinomas and require more aggressive treatment. Induration, inflammation, and oozing suggest degeneration into malignancy.
Occasionally, an actinic keratosis will retain scale and form an elongated keratinous structure or cutaneous horn. Warts, actinic keratosis, and squamous cell carcinoma are all capable of forming cutaneous horns. These unsightly lesions are surgically removed and examined histologically.