The hardest thing to see is what is in front of your eyes. Was ist das Schwerste von allem? Was dir das Leichteste dunkt, Mit den Augen zu sehn, was vor den Augen dir liegt. Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805), German Poet This quote from Schiller, which is commonly attributed to Goethe, fits well with the dermato-logic condition called actinic keratosis. In some aspects, actinic keratosis is the most common and most well-known pathology in dermatology. Actinic keratoses are found in significant numbers on the sun-exposed skin of Caucasians, especially those lucky enough to be living in sun-bathed countries such as Australia, as two of the editors and a considerable number of authors do.
One may question why it is necessary to dedicate a book to this quite ordinary pathology. Everything about this condition seems crystal clear: the cause of its appearance, its pathogenesis, its clinical and pathologic features, its treatment, and also its prognosis. It is exactly because of this clarity that it is necessary to dedicate a book to actinic keratosis. This ordinary pathology provides insight into an extraordinary number of important biological and clinical processes.
All of these thoughts came into my mind when asked by Gregor Jemec to consider compiling a book on actinic keratosis. However, reflection on

Preface vii

Epidemiology of Actinic Keratoses 1

Patients' Perspectives on Actinic Keratosis 8

Photodamage: All Signs Lead to Actinic Keratosis and Early Squamous Cell Carcinoma 14

Dysregulation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Actinic Keratosis and Squamous Cell Carcinoma 20

The Actinic Keratosis Virome: Can We Prevent Squamous Cell Carcinoma with a Vaccine? 28

Do Actinic Keratoses and Superficial Squamous Cell Carcinomas Have a Specific Immunoprofile? 36

Mouse Models for Actinic Keratosis and Squamous Cell Carcinoma 42

Keratinocyte Cancer and Its Precursors in Organ Transplant Patients 49

Clinical Features of Actinic Keratoses and Early Squamous Cell Carcinoma 58

The Many Clinico-Pathologic Faces of Actinic Keratosis: An Atlas 64

Dermoscopy of Actinic Keratosis, Intraepidermal Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma 70

The Future of Keratinocyte Skin Cancer Surveillance: Automated Image Analysis to Identify and Monitor Keratinocyte Dysplasia 77

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy: Hallmarks of Keratinocyte Cancer and Its Precursors 85

Optical Coherence Tomography and Its Role for Delineating the Thickness of Keratinocyte Dysplasia and Neoplasia 95

Teledermatology: Its Use in the Detection and Management of Actinic Keratosis 101

Conventional Treatment of Actinic Keratosis: An Overview 108

Field Cancerization: From Molecular Basis to Selective Field-Directed Management of Actinic Keratosis 115

Update on Photodynamic Treatment for Actinic Keratosis 122

Laser Treatment and Its Implications for Photodamaged Skin and Actinic Keratosis 129

Ingenol Mebutate: From Common Weed to Cancer Cure 136

Oral Nicotinamide and Actinic Keratosis: A Supplement Success Story 143

Author Index 150

Subject Index 151

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