Actinic keratosis is one the most common dermatological complaints and accounts for 8.73% of routine dermatological consultations.1 Although there are no data on the prevalence of actinic keratosis in Spain, rates in other countries are high (1.4%-60%) and the condition is more common the closer one lives to the equator. Actinic keratosis is also thought to be underdiagnosed due to low levels of patient awareness. In addition, its incidence is rising with the aging of the population and increasing levels of outdoor activity.2 Actinic keratosis therefore represents a significant public health associated with a high utilization of health care resources and adverse effects on quality of life.

Studies of the epidemiology of actinic keratosis can provide very valuable information for improving field-directed approaches to treating this condition. A greater understanding of which patients are more likely to develop actinic keratosis and of their sun exposure behaviors will help to design primary prevention strategies aimed at achieving a long-term reduction in the incidence of actinic keratosis and nonmelanoma skin cancer. Finally, a greater understanding of how the disease and its treatments affect quality of life will help to design treatment algorithms that strike a balance between effectiveness and adherence and improvements in quality of life and management of health resources. The study in this issue is a step in this direction and opens the door to research that will improve the quality of care for persons with actinic keratosis.3