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Actinic Keratosis
 I.
Definition:
Actinic
keratosis (AKs) is known as the early beginnings of skin cancer. This
most common lesion of the outermost layer of the skin (epidermis) is caused by
long-term exposure to sunlight (specifically to ultraviolet wavelengths). AKs are most likely to appear after age 40-50, and years of chronic exposure to
the sun. However, in geographic areas with year-round high-intensity
sunlight (e.g., Florida, southern California). AKs are now found in
persons as young as the teens and twenties. The incidence of AKs is
over 50 percent in older, fair-skinned persons in hot, sunny geographic areas.
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