title: A review of actinic keratosis for the nurse practitioner: diagnosis, treatment, and clinical pearls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe key points in the diagnosis and treatment of and patient education for actinic keratosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selected review of scientific literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Actinic keratosis is a common skin lesion seen in primary care that results from exposure to ultraviolet light. Accurate and timely diagnosis is essential to prevent progression to squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse practitioners can make a positive impact on patients' health by promoting treatment adherence and follow-up in primary care.
authors.affiliation: North Baltimore Dermatology LLC, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21152, USA. englerts3@aol.com
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Englert
authors.forename: Brittney
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects