Skip to main content
Cancer

Stay ahead of skin cancer

Print This Page

About 58 million people have at least one actinic keratosis (AK), a precancerous skin growth caused by too much sun exposure. Yet, most people don’t see the potential danger of these lesions because they are small, with few if any annoying symptoms, and can go away almost as fast as they appear. Still, people need to watch out for AKs and get the appropriate treatment from a dermatologist because if left alone, they can turn into squamous cell skin cancer, the second most common type of skin cancer.

To continue reading this article, you must log in.

Source matters. Subscribe to HarvardHealthOnline+ FREE for 30 days for unlimited access to the site – where all content is reviewed by an HMS physician or faculty expert.

With HHO+ you get these exclusive benefits:

  • Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
  • 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
  • Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
  • In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
  • Interactive features like videos and quizzes
  • Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources

SPECIAL OFFER! UNLOCK EXPERT ACCESS for 30 days FREE!

Already a member? Login ».

Print This Page

Disclaimer:

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Free Healthbeat Signup

Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!

Sign Up