Non-cancerous skin lesions
Skin lesions are spots and patches on your skin. They include solar keratoses and seborrhoeic keratoses. These are not cancer, but they can be a sign you are more at risk of skin cancer in the future.
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Solar keratoses
Solar keratoses (also known as actinic keratoses or sun spots) are rough or scaly patches on areas of your skin exposed to the sun. They are harmless, but they show that the ultraviolet (UV) light of the sun has damaged your skin, which means you might later be at risk of skin cancer.
Solar keratoses are not contagious, meaning you cannot pass them on to other people.
There is a small risk that over time solar keratoses could turn into a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), so they are considered to be pre-cancerous.
If you think you may have solar keratoses, make sure you get regular skin checks with a healthcare provider. They can talk to you about the pros and cons of treating the solar keratoses and keep an eye on it.
The best way to avoid getting solar keratoses on your skin is to limit your exposure to the sun.
Seborrhoeic keratoses
Seborrhoeic keratoses are common, harmless skin lesions that appear during adult life.
They can be flat or raised and may have a smooth or warty surface. They range in colour from pale to brown or even black. They look like they are stuck on to your skin.
Treating skin lesions
Options for treating these lesions include:
- using liquid nitrogen spray to freeze them
- gently scraping the lesion (curettage)
- removing it by cutting it out (excision).
Sometimes your healthcare provider may recommend a cream such as fluorouracil or imiquimod to treat your lesions. If you are prescribed a cream, it is important you carefully follow the specific instructions your healthcare provider has given you.