Disease Information

What is actinic keratosis?

An actinic keratosis (AK) is a flat, scaly growth on the skin that usually forms on parts of the body that are exposed to direct sunlight. AKs can be any shape and are skin-colored, reddish-brown, or yellowish-black in color. They range in size from as small as a pinhead to more than an inch across. The surface of the AK is dry and rough to the touch. Occasionally, an AK may itch or feel prickly, especially after sun exposure.

AKs are most commonly found in fair-skinned people who have spent a lot of time in the sun. If AKs are not treated, 10% to 15% may develop into a form of skin cancer called squamous cell cancer.

AK results from damage to the skin due to exposure to the sun over a long period of time.


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Because AKs can appear many different ways, you should ask your doctor to check any suspicious patches of skin.

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Aldara Cream is a skin-use only (topical) prescription medicine used to treat certain types of actinic keratosis on the face and scalp of adults with normal immune systems.

Safety Information:

When using Aldara Cream, the most common side effects involve skin reactions in the application area. These include redness, swelling, a sore, blisters, or ulcers, skin that becomes hard or thickened, skin peeling, scabbing and crusting, itching, burning, and changes in skin color that do not always go away.

When using Aldara Cream for actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinoma, exposure to sunlight (including sunlamps) should be avoided or minimized during use of Aldara Cream because of concern of heightened sunburn susceptibility. Patients should be warned to use protective clothing (hat) when using Aldara Cream.