Keratosis, actinic
A small rough spot on the skin that can give rise to a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Actinic keratosis is due to excessive sun exposure and most frequently occurs in fair-skinned people after 40 years of age. Common locations for actinic keratosis are the face, scalp, nape of the neck, upper chest, forearms, and backs of the hands. Prevention involves minimizing sun exposure and using sunscreen. Treatments include cryosurgery (freezing), surgical removal, topical medications, laser therapy, and photodynamic therapy (injection into the bloodstream of a chemical that collects in the actinic keratoses to make them more sensitive to exposure to a specialized form of light). Also known as senile keratosis and solar keratosis.
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- Keratosis, seborrheic
A common skin disorder that is characterized by benign, painless, often wart-like skin lesions that appear to be ‘stuck on.’ The raised spots are usually yellow or brown. Treatment, if warranted, involves surgical or cryo-surgical removal. Also known as seborrheic warts and verruca.
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A severe form of scabies that is caused by delaying treatment of the initial infestation. Keratotic scabies is characterized by mite-filled lesions covered with scabs. These lesions often become infected with bacteria such as staphylococcus. Keratotic scabies is most common in people with immune-system problems, including AIDS, diabetes, and lupus. Also known as crusted scabies.
- Keratotomy
A surgical cut of the cornea.
- Keratotomy, radial
A surgical procedure designed to flatten the cornea and thereby correct nearsightedness (myopia). It is called a radial keratotomy because the radial incisions in the cornea resemble the spokes in a bicycle wheel.
- Kernicterus
A disorder that is due to severe jaundice in the newborn, with deposition of the pigment bilirubin in the brain that causes damage to the brain, potentially leading to athetoid cerebral palsy, hearing loss, vision problems, or mental retardation. Also known as bilirubin encephalopathy.