Keratosis is the name given when the growth of keratin is seen on the skin – this can be caused by a number of reasons, but one of the most common is through exposure to the sun. If caused in this way, the condition is also known as actinic or solar keratosis, aka “sun spots”. The patches are hard and often scaly to touch.
Depending on the cause, keratosis can be a serious skin disorder and when caused by the sun, can be a premalignant condition that leads to skin cancer. Treating keratosis is important, as this can reduce the risk of it developing into something more serious.
