Diagnosis: Actinic keratoses
Description: Thick hyperkeratotic papules
Morphology: Crusts
Site: Hand,dorsum
Sex: M
Age: 74
Type: Clinical
Submitted By: Ian McColl
Differential DiagnosisHistory: In white populations actinic damage is a major problem.Chronic sun exposure leads to solar keratoses and squamous cell skin cancers as are shown in the picture of the dorsum of the hand above.Sun damage is cummulative over the years and also causes the pigment changes and loss of elasticity of the skin.A dark skin gives much more protection from solar damage.