§ Lord Henleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of actinic keratosis in England. [HL3562]
§ Lord Warner:Actinic keratosis is a dermatological condition with a small risk of cancer, typically brought on by chronic exposure to sunlight. There are two equally important health issues that need to be addressed: how to treat the condition once it occurs; and how to prevent it in the longer term through effective health education.
Treatment of actinic keratosis is relatively straightforward and involves freezing or cutting away any skin lesions. Guidance published by the Royal College of General Practitioners on the role of general practitioners with a special interest in dermatology will help to improve advice, training and support for general practitioners and other members of the primary health care team in the management of common skin conditions.
142WAWe are also addressing the need to improve people's awareness of preventing skin conditions like actinic keratosis. We have commissioned Cancer Research UK to provide the SunSmart skin cancer prevention campaign for the next three years. This will provide:
posters at all UK doctors' surgeries to help general practitioners and practice nurses identify suspicious skin lesions;health information leaflets for distribution to patients by doctors' surgeries.