Sunspot Danger Signs

Sun Damage Leads to Solar Keratosis

Over 65% of Australians will have some level of sun damage or solar keratosis. Solar keratoses are the plural of solar keratosis. Sunspots can turn into skin cancers.

What are Solar Keratoses?

Solar keratoses, or ‘Sunspots’, are areas of your skin that are damaged (lesions) caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.

Sunspot Understanding

Sunspots or solar keratoses can appear as solitary spots, but as surrounding skin can also suffer sun damage, it is likely multiple sunspots will appear over time.

WHERE

Sunspots are located in sun-exposed areas such as the head and neck, forearms, hands and back.

SIZE

Sunspots can be as small as a pinhead or may grow to several centimetres in diameter.

SEE

Sunspots can be range from skin-coloured or reddish-brown coloured patches.

FEEL

Sunspots can sometimes be easier to feel than see, they can be rough to the touch like sandpaper or feel scaly.

Be Sunspot Aware

Over time solar keratoses may regress, fade, stay the same, or change. Beware of the following developments:
  • Skin Becomes Thicker
  • The Spot Is Painful/Tender
  • The Spot Is Growing Quickly
  • The SunSpot Size Is More Than 1 Cm
  • Sunspot Is Showing Redness Or Bleeding
  • The Sunspot Becomes An Ulcer
If you notice any of the features mentioned above
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

How Dangerous Is a Solar Keratosis?

Sunspots can become dangerous. Skin cancers called Squamous Cell Carcinoma can develop from sunspots in people who are at risk.

As many as 65% of all primary squamous cell carcinomas arise from previously diagnosed solar keratoses in high-risk individuals.

Solar keratoses are diagnosed clinically based on their characteristics, and in suspicious cases a biopsy may be required to rule out malignancy.