I Have Actinic Keratoses: A Pre-Cancerous Skin Condition

 You see that little red scaly patch on my ear? That is actinic keratoses, which is a pre cancerous skin condition. It is caused by the sun, from IV exposure.

I've always been the ultimate factor 50 girly, and been that person who nags other people about sun tan lotion, and particularly about making sure to put it on your ears because people always forget them. I've always stayed in the shade and even in winter I wear factor 50 on my face and neck. I've always tried not to tan, even gone as far as using a parasol to stay pale! Any tan is actually skin damage, and I've always taken that really seriously. This year is actually the first year you could really see my birthmark on my leg because I was so pale it had basically faded to nothing.

But the sun still got me. I believe that is what Alanis Morisette would call ironic!

I'm currently undergoing immunotherapy to treat it in the hopes that it hasn't progressed into squamous cell carcinoma. I'll know more after the treatment finishes and heals. I am half way through the treatment at the moment, and apparently this is when it starts to get fun, with flu like symptoms, and my skin burning, scabbing and generally looking quite grim as it works.

I initially thought this was just a wound that wouldn't heal because I wear headphones so much but my Mum kept bugging me about it and she was right to!

Wear the sun tan lotion folks. Factor 50 please!