The small, scaly patches caused by too much sun exposure commonly occur on the head, neck, or hands, but can be found elsewhere. They're the early beginnings of skin cancer. Actinic keratosis usually appears on people after age 40, but they can show up in much younger people. Fair-skinned, blond, or red-haired people with blue or green eyes are most at risk. Early treatment is advised to stop progression to squamous cell skin cancer.
Actinic Cheilitis (Farmer's Lip)
Related to actinic keratosis, actinic cheilitis is a precancerous condition that usually appears on the lower lips. Scaly patches or persistent dryness and cracking of the lips may be present. Less common symptoms include swelling of the lip, loss of the sharp border between the lip and skin, and prominent lip lines. Actinic cheilitis may evolve into invasive squamous cell carcinoma if not treated.
