Hard dry patch of skin on hand

It's often found on the face, lips, ears, forearms, scalp, neck or back of the hands. Also known as a solar keratosis, an actinic keratosis grows slowly and usually first appears in people over You can reduce your risk of this skin condition by minimizing your sun exposure and protecting your skin from ultraviolet UV rays.

It can be difficult to distinguish between noncancerous spots and cancerous ones. So it's best to have new skin changes evaluated by a doctor — especially if a scaly spot or patch persists, grows or bleeds. An actinic keratosis is caused by frequent or intense exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds.

If treated early, actinic keratosis can be cleared up or removed. If left untreated, some of these spots might progress to squamous cell carcinoma — a type of cancer that usually isn't life-threatening if detected and treated early. Sun safety is necessary to help prevent development and recurrence of actinic keratosis patches and spots.

Use sunscreen. Before spending time outdoors, even on cloud days, apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor SPF of at least 30, as the American Academy of Dermatology recommends. Use sunscreen on all exposed skin, and use lip balm with sunscreen on your lips. Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside and reapply it every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.

Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under 6 months. Rather, keep them out of the sun if possible, or protect them with shade, hats, and clothing that covers the arms and legs. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. You can reduce your risk of actinic keratosis by avoiding indoor tanning and limiting your sun exposure.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you:. Stephanie Thurrott is a writer who covers mental health, personal growth, wellness, family, food and personal finance, and dabbles in just about any other topic that grabs her attention.

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