Sun spots (solar keratosis)
A solar keratosis is a sunspot caused by repeated sun damage. If you work outside, sunbathe a lot or are fair skinned you're more prone to them. They are small, rough bumps up to 3cm across that can be flesh coloured, pink, red or pale brown. You normally get them on the backs of your hands, arms, face or neck. They don't hurt and are usually harmless, but can rarely turn into skin cancer, so keep an eye on them. Stay out of the sun and use a high factor sun cream to prevent them.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of solar keratoses, read on.
A solar keratosis is a small lump on the skin which is caused by a lot of exposure to sun over the years. Several may develop. They are usually harmless, but can be unsightly. Treatment is usually advised as there is a small risk that a solar keratosis may eventually turn into skin cancer.
What is a solar keratosis?
A solar keratosis is a small, rough, bump which develops on the skin. It is caused by a lot of exposure to the sun over many years. One or more may develop. It is sometimes called an actinic keratosis.
What does a solar keratosis look like?
Each one can range from the size of a pinhead to 2-3 cm across. Their colour can be light, dark, pink, red, the same colour as your skin, or a combination of these. The top of each one may have a yellow-white crust. They feel rough and dry, and are slightly raised from the surface of the skin. You can often feel them more easily than see them. Some redness may develop in the surrounding skin.
Sometimes a finger-like growth of hard skin appears to come out of a solar keratosis (a 'cutaneous horn').
Several solar keratoses may develop at about the same time, often in the same area of skin. Sometimes several join together and form a large flat-ish rough area of skin.
Solar keratoses usually develop on areas of skin which have been exposed to the sun a lot. For example, on the face, neck, bald patches on the scalp, and the backs of the hands. They may appear in other areas in people who do a lot of sunbathing.
There are usually no other symptoms. Rarely, you may get an itchy or pricking sensation from affected areas of skin.
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