Sun Spots On Your Skin May Be A Warning

Thursday, March 1, 2012

(NAPSA)—Spending time in the sun can result in more than just fun and games. Forinstance, many people find that as they age, their skin begins to show the appearance of some pigmentation commonly known as “sun spots.” These “spots” can increase in numberas a person ages. Unfortunately, what many people don’t realize is that some of these sun spots may actually be actinic keratosis (AK), a skin condition that affects 58 million Americans and has the potential to progress to squamouscell carcinoma (SCC), the second-most- commonskin cancer. The good newsis an education effort is raising awareness about the problem and howto treat it. The campaign website can be found at www.SpotSignsofAK.com. Too Much Sun Can Be Risky AKs are rough-textured, dry, scaly patches on the skin that can range in color and vary in size. They are the result of years of cumulative sun damage and most often appear on parts of the body that are most exposed to sunlight, such as the face, scalp, ears, neck, hands and arms. AKs are most commonin older adults who have spent a lot of time in the sun during their lives. However, even routine activities such as walking the dog or grabbing your mail can lead to sun damage. People who develop AKstypically will not develop just one. The condition will present in numerous “spots” or will continue to present intermit- tently over time. An Effort to Raise Awareness Dr. Ellen Marmur—a dermatol- ogist and cosmetic surgeon—is raising awareness about actinic keratosis by promoting the Spot Signs of AK campaign. The cam- Many people don’t realize that the skin pigmentation known as “sun spots” mayactually be actinic ker- atosis (AK), a skin condition that affects 58 million Americans. paign is an initiative developed by DUSAPharmaceuticals. Said Dr. Marmur, “Education around melanoma and other skin cancers has been very strong, but actinic keratosis remains rela- tively unknown.” Early Detection Is Critical According to Dr. Marmur, approximately 5-10 percent of AKsdevelop into squamous cell carcinoma within an average of twoyears. Since there is no way to know ahead of time which ones will become cancerous, it is very important to seek a dermatologist’s care. Frequent skin examinations are the key to early detection and prevention. The campaign website contains information on the condition and how to find a dermatologist, as well as information on the range of treatment options available. “People who get AKs typically do not get just one,” said Dr. Marmur. “The years of sun damageaffect entire regions of the skin. This is just further reason for adults who think they have AKs to speak with their dermatologist. And if you don’t have a derm,find one.” For more information on AKs or to find a dermatologist, visit www.SpotSignsofAK.com. Note to Editors: Dr. Ellen Marmur receives financial compensation from DUSA Pharmaceuticals for participation on its Scientific Advisory Board.

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