Actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin growth usually caused by sun exposure.Actinic keratosis occurs most commonly in fair skin, especially in the elderly and in young individuals with light complexions. The growths occur in sun-exposed skin areas. The growths begin as flat scaly areas that later develop a hard wart-like surface.
They are classified as precancerous growths. If left untreated, approximately 10% of actinic keratoses develop into squamous cell carcinoma.