What are Precancerous Skin Conditions?
There are several types of precancerous conditions that could be early skin cancer signs: • Actinic keratosis (AK). This is the most common precancerous skin condition, and a big warning sign for skin cancer trouble ahead. AKs occur when the skin has sustained too much exposure and damage from the sun; they look like crusty bumps, which may be flesh-colored, brown, pink, or red. They may itch, be inflamed and irritated, and may sometimes even bleed. These precancerous lesions often lead to squamous cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma if untreated. “Actinic keratosis may look like rough spots that you get in those same areas of chronically sun-exposed skin, such as on the face or on the backs of the hands,” says Martin Weinstock, MD, chairman of the Skin Cancer Advisory Committee at the American Cancer Society and professor of dermatology and community health at Brown University. • Leukoplakia. This is a precancerous skin condition that affects the lips and inside of the mouth. White l
