Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What is the likely complication of untreated actinic keratosis?

1. Benign skin changes

2. Skin cancer

3. Psoriasis

4. Basal cell carcinoma

The correct answer is: Skin cancer

Actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin condition that arises due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, leading to changes in the skin cells. When left untreated, actinic keratosis can progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a type of skin cancer. This progression occurs because the abnormal cells in actinic keratosis have the potential to become malignant over time. While basal cell carcinoma is another common form of skin cancer, it typically arises from other forms of skin damage, not directly from actinic keratosis. Therefore, the likelihood of untreated actinic keratosis leading specifically to skin cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma, makes "skin cancer" the most appropriate choice. In this context, benign skin changes would not represent a complication since actinic keratosis is characterized by potentially malignant alterations. Psoriasis is an entirely separate skin condition unrelated to actinic keratosis, so it would not be considered a complication either. Thus, the most pertinent and accurate complication of untreated actinic keratosis is indeed the development of skin cancer.