DERMATOLOGY: BE ON ALERT FOR PRE-CANCER SKIN CONDITIONS.DR. JOSHUA FOX, dermatologist and founder of ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY and THE CENTER FOR LASER AND COSMETIC SURGERY in New York:
“Actinic keratosis and seborrheic keratosis share the same name, despite the vast differences in their causes, their potential seriousness, their treatment regimens and even their prognoses. Both conditions have several features in common, including the growth of thick, raised bumps on the skin, and the increased incidence of both as we age. The actinic keratosis often looks innocuous enough, but it can be either a pre-cancer or the beginning stage of a serious skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. And, while the seborrheic keratosis is a completely benign growth, it may mimic or look similar to a melanoma – the deadliest skin cancer of all. It’s so important that patients understand the differences between these conditions, and that they know what to do when they suspect either one.”