Blood vessels
(Telangiectasias)
Fungal infections of
skin, nail, and hair
Actinic keratosis
An actinic keratosis (AK) is a crusty or scaly lesion that forms on the surface of skin. Another name is solar keratosis. They are caused by sun exposure and are more common in the older population and fairer skin types. They usually appear on sun exposed areas: face, ears, scalp, neck, backs of hands and forearms, and lips. Often, they can be recognized easier by touch rather than sight due to their crust or scale. We treat all actinic keratoses because they can be the first step in the development of skin cancer, and, therefore, are commonly referred to as precancers. Although only a small percentage can progress into a skin cancer, we treat them to prevent this occurrence. Vanguard Dermatology offers a comprehensive array of treatment options including cryotherapy, topical creams, and photodynamic therapy or PDT.