Difference between Actinic Keratosis and Seborrheic Keratosis

Differences Actinic Keratosis Diagnosis & Treatment

The two skin disorders with similar names-actinic keratosis (solar keratosis) and seborrheic keratosis (senile wart)-are sometimes mistaken for one another, despite significant differences in their causes and treatments. Read this article to learn how these two skin disorders are different from each other.

What is Actinic Keratosis?

Actinic keratosis are precancerous lesions that form on the face, shoulders, neck, hands, and arms after prolonged exposure to the sun's UV radiation. Prevalent in the population older than

These moles may progress into cancer of the skin. Actinic keratosis develops when epidermal keratinocytes undergo alterations.

Causes and prevalence − Actinic keratosis is caused by being exposed to the sun's UV rays. The illness manifests up after repeated sunburns over time and often affects those with fair skin in their medium to late adult years.

Symptoms and complications − Areas of skin change texture and appearance, becoming rough and scaly. They often manifest as round, dry areas of skin with a diameter of less than 2.5 cm. Pink, red, or brown patches of skin are common in places that receive a lot of light, such the face and arms, and are caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays. It is a precancerous state that can progress to squamous cell carcinoma.

Diagnosis − This disorder can be diagnosed with certainty by a clinical examination of the skin and a biopsy of skin lesions.

Treatment − Ointments containing alpha-hydroxy acids or the chemical tretinoin can be applied to the affected areas of the skin. It is possible to use electrocautery to remove the skin samples for analysis. Future sun or tanning bed exposure should be avoided since this might cause the condition to persist or even worsen. The skin may be shielded from the sun by using sunblock and by wearing protective gear.

What is Seborrheic Keratosis?

The skin lesions caused by seborrheic keratosis are not cancerous. It typically affects persons over the age of 50. The vast majority of the time, these skin lesions or growths are completely

safe for the skin and pose no danger to the patient. These age-related warts might seem like black or waxy brown or tan spots, and they are harmless.

Differences: Actinic Keratosis and Seborrheic Keratosis

The following table highlights the major differences between Actinic Keratosis and Seborrheic Keratosis −

Characteristics	Actinic Keratosis	Seborrheic Keratosis
Definition	Scaly cancerous lesions on skin	Waxy non-cancerous lesions
Stage of evaluation	Scaly patch on lips, forearms, neck, ears, lips, forehead, scalp and hands In some people, it is a hard and wartlike surface Flat to raised patch or bump on the upper most layer of skin Lesion takes a long duration of time (years) to develop Color variations in the patches, including pink, brown or red Burning, itching, bleeding or crusting	Is a condition wherein senile wart of light tan, brown or black color appears on the chest, face, shoulders or back side of the body. Have a pasted-on, waxy look There could be itching The warts are round or oval shaped Is elevated or flat with a waxy and scaly surface Ranges in size from very tiny to 2.5 cm
Triage	Have red or blond hair Have light-coloured or blue eyes Lives in a place which gets too much sunlight Are above 40 years of age Works mostly outdoors Possess a past history of having a lot of sunburn or sunlight exposure Tend to burn or freckle on being exposed to sunlight Have a fragile and weak immune system	Are above 50 years of age Family history of the condition or family members with seborrheic keratosis Are frequently exposed to sun
Method	Topical therapies – Use of medications like Diclofenac gel, 5-aminolevulinic acid, imiquimod cream, tretinoin, ingenol mebutate gel to destroy actinic keratoses lesions. Medication – Oral retinoids Cryotherapy – It is a “cold therapy,” technique where the body is exposed to extremely cold temperatures for some time. Harmful cells are freezed by application of liquid nitrogen, removed and destroyed. Curettage – Minor surgical scraping in which a scalpel (a small straight thin-bladed knife) is used to remove the pre-cancerous or cancerous growth Photodynamic therapy (PDT) – is a 2-stage procedure in which a chemical is applied in combination with a specific light to remove the malignant and pre- malignant cells after light activation. Electrocautery – cautery (removal of diseased cells) using an instrument that is electrically heated. Laser ablation – Use of laser to remove unwanted and diseased tissues Chemical peels and dermabrasions (the removal of superficial layers of skin with a rapidly revolving abrasive tool)	Cryosurgery – Highly effective treatment where application of extreme cold in surgery from liquid nitrogen takes place to destroy diseased or the abnormal skin tissues Curettage – Minor surgical scraping in which a scalpel (a small straight thin-bladed knife) is used to remove the growth Electrocautery – also called electrocautery, is a procedure in which cautery is carried out using uses heat from an electric current (direct or alternating current) to remove the unwanted or harmful tissue Laser ablation – or photoablation is a procedure in which laser flux is used to destroy the lesions Topical therapy – Medication in which Hydrogen Peroxide is used to shrink the diseased cells.

Conclusion

Both these skin conditions are irregular keratin skin growths that develop out of common types of skin cells (keratinocyte cells), however they are quite different in their symptoms and the way they are treated.

Vineet Nanda

Updated on: 01-Mar-2023

131 Views

Kickstart Your Career

Get certified by completing the course

Get Started