What are actinic keratoses?
Actinic keratoses are precancerous skin growths that develop over years of exposure to ultraviolet light, either from natural sunlight or a tanning bed.
These skin lesions are premalignant. But when they go untreated, AKs can develop into the second most common type of skin cancer: squamous cell carcinoma.
What symptoms appear if I have actinic keratoses?
Actinic keratoses occur in areas like the face, neck, and hands that get a lot of exposure to sunlight. The lesions typically feel rough and scaly. They can appear pink, red, gray, brown, or skin-colored. In some cases, actinic keratoses may grow out from your skin and resemble a horn. This form poses a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
After you have one actinic keratosis, you have a higher risk of developing others. The more areas of actinic keratoses you have, the more likely you are to develop skin cancer.
How are actinic keratoses treated?
Knipe Dermatology recommends the best treatment based on factors such as the number and location of your lesions.
Home treatment consists of topical creams. There are several prescription creams available, and they work in different ways. For example, some boost your immune system, and others kill fast-growing cancerous cells.
The actinic keratosis treatment options used in the office include:
1. Cryotherapy
Your provider freezes the lesions, which makes the treated area blister and peel off.
2. Photodynamic therapy
This therapy uses a topical solution followed by red or blue light therapy. The light activates the solution, which eliminates the precancerous lesions.
3. Chemical peels
This is a different chemical peel than those used in rejuvenating skin treatments. This medical-grade peel destroys the area and eliminates the lesion.
If you notice rough, scaly lesions of skin, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Call Knipe Dermatology, or schedule an appointment online today.
