Actinic keratosis is usually little cause for concern. Small patches may disappear by themselves. However, it is important to adopt good sun-protection habits. As actinic keratosis is caused by exposure to the sun, the key to prevention is avoiding the sun when its rays are most intense, especially around the middle of the day. Before going outdoors follow the usual sun safety measures of applying sunscreen with a high SPF and protection from both UVA and UVB light and wearing clothes designed to provide sun protection. It is also important to follow these steps if you already have signs of actinic keratosis in order to reduce the chances of them developing into skin cancer.