Actinic keratosis is often treated because of its potential to turn into squamous cell cancer. But because this risk is low, treatments are generally aimed at avoiding scars or other disfiguring marks as much as possible.

Actinic keratosis is commonly treated with either cryosurgery or topical fluorouracil (5-FU). These treatments destroy the affected area of the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, which can serve as transports for cancer cells throughout the body, are not present in this layer, so simply destroying the affected parts of the epidermis usually cures actinic keratosis.

Other topical creams such as imiquimod or diclofenac, or other localized treatments (shave excision, electrodesiccation and curettage, photodynamic therapy) are also sometimes used.