Actinic Keratosis

Why Skin Checks Matter – Actinic Keratosis

I recently had the pleasure of seeing a lovely client of mine who had come to me in the past for treatment of multiple Seborrheic Keratoses—those common, harmless skin growths that can appear in various textures and colours. Like many people, she’d had a few that were crusty, waxy, or just generally bothersome, and we’d successfully treated them together.

But during a follow-up visit, she mentioned a persistent patch of redness and flakiness right on the bridge of her nose. It hadn’t gone away for months, and although it wasn’t painful, it didn’t seem to heal like normal skin would.

Given her concerns, she decided to book in for a blemish check with me. During her appointment, I carried out a thorough visual assessment and used a dermatoscope to take close-up images of the area in question.

The area on her nose stood out—not because it was alarming at first glance, but because it had that subtle, persistent look I often see in early sun-damage-related conditions such as Actinic Keratosis.

As part of my protocol, I prepared a detailed report and sent the dermatoscopic images to a consultant dermatologist for review. This kind of collaborative approach means we’re giving clients not only reassurance but also access to expert analysis and follow-up if needed.

In this case, the dermatologist confirmed what I had suspected: Actinic Keratosis.

This is a precancerous skin change caused by long-term sun exposure. While it’s not cancer, it’s a warning sign that the skin in that area has been damaged by UV rays over time and is at risk of developing into something more serious if left untreated.

The recommendation was for her to see her GP to start a course of Efudix (Fluorouracil) cream, a topical treatment commonly used to target and treat areas of actinic damage. It works by encouraging the damaged skin cells to shed, making room for healthy regeneration.

Here is my clients feedback: