Actinic elastosis usually appears as thickened, dry, wrinkled skin.

In the earlier stages of actinic elastosis, elastic fiber proliferation can be seen in the dermis.

The underlying dermis often shows severe actinic elastosis and a mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate.

It is often difficult to distinguish basal-cell cancer from acne scar, actinic elastosis, and recent cryodestruction inflammation.

Pterygium in the conjunctiva is characterized by elastotic degeneration of collagen (actinic elastosis) and fibrovascular proliferation.