title: [When and why treat actinic keratoses?].
abstract: Actinic keratoses (AK) are small, inflamed, hyperkeratotic, sunprovoked lesions which may progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). There are two main reasons for treating AK: one is as prophylaxis against SCC, the other is because of cosmetic discomfort, with clothes getting caught in the hyperkeratotic AK. Visible AK and neighbouring invisible AK should be treated. As AK are provoked by UV radiation, protection against UV is essential. This paper comments on a Cochrane review: "Interventions for actinic keratosis" and treatments avaliable in Denmark.
authors.affiliation: Dermato-venerologisk Afdeling D42, -Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 København NV. h.wulf@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Hans Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wulf
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic