Actinic keratosis: a clinical and epidemiological revision

Abstract

<jats:p>Actinic keratoses are benign intraepithelial skin neoplasms constituted by atypical proliferation of keratinocytes that may evolve to squamous cell carcinoma. They develop in photoexposed skin areas; they are induced mainly by ultraviolet radiation and are considered cutaneous markers of chronic exposure to sunlight. They develop mainly in adults and older, fair skinned individuals, and are the fourth most common cause of dermatologic consultation in Brazil. Damage to the apoptosis pathway in photoexposed epithelium favors cellular proliferation and the permanence of the lesions. In this revision, the authors assemble the main epidemiological data regarding this disease and suggest that strategies to identify risky phenotypes, early diagnosis, adequate treatment, clinical follow-up, stimulus to skin self examination, photoeducation and photoprotection should be promoted with the aim of avoiding the progression to malignancy and also the prevention and the diagnose of concomitant neoplasms also induced by ultraviolet radiation.</jats:p>

Oral acetylsalicylic acid and prevalence of actinic keratosis

“…Besides its potential (0.6-20%) for turning into invasive neoplasms, they reflect the accumulated photodamage and indicate a larger risk of developing skin cancers in every region affected by the disease. [1][2][3][4][5] They are common in sun-exposed areas of elderly fairskinned people, representing 5.1% of complaints in dermatological consultations in Brazil. In Australia, it is estimated that 40-50% of the population above 40 years of age presents at least one lesion.…”

Clinical Protocol Standardized in a Public Health System Using a Prototype for Actinic Keratosis and Field Cancerization Treatment

“…For our reality, the large use of PDT with the real costs for the government is impossible and the solution was the development of this prototype, used associated with the medication produced in Brazil. The reduction by 70% of AK after just one PDT session motivates us to standardize this protocol in the public health system, once our country presents a high incidence of UV and AKs are the fourth most common cause of dermatologic consultation in Brazil [23] .…”

Transfersomes as versatile and flexible nano-vesicular carriers in skin cancer therapy: the state of the art

“…Lesions are frequently asymptomatic, but they can be painful or itchy. Owing to the swelling nature of the condition, the occurrence of AK increases with age and is an ordinary condition in the adult populace aged over 50 years [84]. Treatment of AK depends on the medical appearance of the lesions: it may be fought at exact lesions (lesion directed) or at numerous lesions over a large area (field directed), and occasionally both treatment approaches are used.…”