Rough Skin Patch Could Be Cancer Risk

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

ROCHESTER, Minn. — If you have rough, gray patches of skin that don't respond to moisturizing, it's a good idea to check with your doctor.

That advice comes from the November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter because those patches could indicate actinic keratosis, a skin condition caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays, typically from the sun.

Actinic keratosis doesn't cause other symptoms, but left untreated, some cases develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. Some doctors consider actinic keratosis to be precancerous. Others consider it to be an early form of skin cancer.

Actinic keratoses may appear as rough, scaly patches or crusts on the top layer of skin. The lesions may be white, pink, red, gray or flesh colored. They're usually 1 inch or less in diameter and found on parts of your body exposed to the sun. There could be one or more lesions.

Ask your doctor about possible treatments. Options including freezing the surface of the lesion, using topical medications, destroying the lesion with laser light or scraping it off. Actinic keratoses usually are very responsive to treatment. After treatment, you'll likely have regular follow-ups to watch for new lesions. Sun safety is necessary to prevent recurrence.

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville — Erik Kaldor – 904-953-2299

Mayo Clinic Scottsdale — Lynn Closway — 480-301-4337

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.

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