Actinic Keratosis vs Seborrheic Keratosis

How to tell the difference — key features compared side by side.

Feature
Actinic Keratosis
Seborrheic Keratosis
Category
Pre-cancerous
Benign
Key feature
Rough, sandpaper-like patches from years of sun damage. The most common precancer - 5-10% progress to squamous cell carcinoma.
Waxy, stuck-on growths - the most common benign tumor in adults over 50. Harmless but frequently mistaken for melanoma.
Risk factors
Cumulative lifetime sun exposure; Fair skin, light hair, light eyes (Fitzpatrick I-III); Age over 40
Age over 50 (prevalence approaches 100% in elderly); Genetic predisposition (strong familial tendency); Sun exposure may play a role in some cases
Action needed
Any rough scaly patch on sun-exposed skin persisting more than two weeks
Only if you are unsure whether a growth is SK or melanoma

Actinic Keratosis

Actinic keratosis (AK) is the most common precancerous skin lesion, affecting an estimated 58 million Americans. It develops from cumulative ultraviolet radiation damage and represents the earliest stage toward squamous cell carcinoma.

Read full guide →

Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is the single most common benign skin tumor, affecting nearly all adults over 60. They appear as waxy, raised, brown or tan growths that look as though they have been pasted or stuck onto the skin surface.

Read full guide →

Does yours look more like actinic keratosis?

Quick self-check

Does this look like actinic keratosis? Answer 2 questions.

Does the spot feel rough or sandpaper-like?

Is it on a chronically sun-exposed area?

Still not sure?

Our full ABCDE checker evaluates 5 clinical criteria dermatologists use.

Full ABCDE check →