Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Exam Prep 2026 – Complete Practice Resource

Small patches caused by actinic keratosis (AK) are characterized by their rough, dry, and scaly texture, which may sometimes be associated with tenderness. AK typically develops as a result of prolonged sun exposure, and the tenderness can indicate inflammation or irritation in the lesion. This tenderness is a useful clinical finding that distinguishes actinic keratosis from other skin lesions, which may not present with the same degree of discomfort upon examination.

Other features of actinic keratosis include variations in color, which can range from skin-toned to pinkish or reddish, and size, which can vary between lesions. While some patients may experience a firm lesion that feels tender, others might not report tenderness at all, highlighting that tenderness is not a universally consistent characteristic but rather one that may be noted upon assessment. Rapid growth is not typical of actinic keratosis; lesions generally remain stable or grow slowly over time. Thus, tenderness serves as a notable feature when characterizing actinic keratosis.