Diseases and Conditions Feature

Visual Signs of Poor Health That You Probably Ignore (But Shouldn’t)

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Rough Spots on Your Skin

Crusty blemishes, known as keratosis, are usually benign. Known as seborrheic keratosis, this benign condition appears as a brown, black or light tan growth on the face, chest, shoulders or back, and has a slightly waxy feel.

Actinic keratosis, also known as solar keratosis, on the other hand, is not a benign condition. These look similar to seborrheic keratosis; however, these patches appear on your skin due to years of sun exposure. Actinic keratosis is most often found on the face, lips, ears, back of your hands, forearms, scalp or neck. These patches take years to develop and are most commonly found in adults over 40.

If you have any keratosis spots, it’s important to get it checked out by a dermotologist, as a small percentage of actinic keratosis lesions will eventually become skin cancer.

The best course of action is always prevention! The best way to protect yourself from skin cancer is to protect your skin from UV rays by wearing a good sunscreen and avoiding exposure to the sun.