Actinic Keratoses
Actinic keratoses are generally not considered skin cancers. However, because they may sometimes turn cancerous, proper treatment is absolutely essential. You need a practice you can trust to safeguard the health of your skin and treat actinic keratoses. In Worcester, Massachusetts, you can trust the practice of Dr. Seth Kates and Dr. A. David Simkin.
To learn more about your options for rosacea treatment, request a consultation online or call Worcester Dermatology Associates at 508-754-3823 in Worcester or 978-256-4151 in Chelmsford.
Prevention
Sun damage is permanent. Once it has progressed to the point where actinic keratoses develop, new keratoses may appear even without further sun exposure. Now, that's not to say you should deprive yourself of the pleasure of being outdoors; simply focus on reasonable, responsible sun protection.
Treating Actinic Keratoses
Actinic keratoses can be treated by freezing with liquid nitrogen. Freezing causes blistering and shedding of the sun-damaged skin. Healing is usually uneventful and takes 8 to 14 days on the face, 2 to 3 weeks on the arms and trunk, and up to one month on the legs. If something doesn't heal, it might signify that it is actually a skin cancer and it should be pointed out to Dr. Kates or Dr. Simkin. They may choose to biopsy the area to get an accurate microscopic diagnosis.
When there are many keratoses, a useful treatment is the application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The medication is rubbed on the keratoses for 3 to 6 weeks. 5-FU destroys sun-damaged skin cells. After 3 to 5 days, the treated area starts to get raw. At the conclusion of treatment, the skin is frequently still raw and complete healing may require another 2 weeks.
A newer treatment is Aldara cream, which sparks an immune response that then clears the actinic keratoses. Solareze gel is also used to suppress the development of new actinic keratoses. All of these treatments are more effective on the face than they are on the extremities and trunk.
