Do you need treatment?
If left alone, solar keratosis can sometimes develop into a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This is usually not a life threatening cancer, provided it is detected and treated in the early stages. If left untreated,
it can spread into other tissue and start to cause more serious problems. Early diagnosis and treatment of solar keratosis is the best way to stop the condition developing into skin cancer.
Once treated, can the condition return?
As solar keratosis lesions are the result of long-term skin damage due to overexposure to the sun’s rays, it is unlikely that your damaged skin will experience only one episode. Once you have been successfully treated, regular examinations and checks will help to keep the condition under control.
Can you avoid solar keratosis?
Although you cannot reverse the damage to your skin, you can take sensible precautions to stop it being damaged further and reduce the chances of solar keratosis returning. Try to:
- Avoid excessive exposure to direct sunlight, especially between 10am and 4pm when it is at its strongest
- Wear a wide brimmed hat and clothes that cover your arms and legs
- Use sunscreen with a protection factor of 15 or higher
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours if you are outdoors, even on cloudy days