Medication
Patients with actinic keratoses (AKs), which can progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, often are treated with any of several “field-directed” therapies when they have areas with multiple lesions. In this randomized trial that involved 624 patients, four field-directed alternatives were compared:
Procedures
Even after treatment for actinic keratosis, your doctor might suggest that you have your skin checked at least once a year for signs of skin cancer.
Therapy
It's hard to tell which actinic keratoses will develop into skin cancer, so they're usually removed as a precaution. If you have several actinic keratoses, your doctor might prescribe a medicated cream or gel to remove them, such as fluorouracil (Carac, Fluoroplex, others), imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara), ingenol mebutate or diclofenac (Solaraze).
Self-care
During a skin biopsy, your doctor takes a small sample of your skin for analysis in a lab. A biopsy can usually be done in a doctor's office after a numbing injection. Even after treatment for actinic keratosis, your doctor might suggest that you have your skin checked at least once a year for signs of skin cancer.
Nutrition
What is the best treatment for actinic keratosis?
How often should I have a skin check after actinic keratosis?
Can actinic keratosis turn into skin cancer?
What happens during a skin biopsy for actinic keratosis?
What is the most effective treatment for actinic keratosis?
Actinic keratoses can be removed by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. Your doctor applies the substance to the affected skin, which causes blistering or peeling. As your skin heals, the damaged cells slough off, allowing new skin to appear. Cryotherapy is the most common treatment.
What kills actinic keratosis?
Topical Treatments They can be treated by the application of gels and creams such as fluorouracil, imiquimod, ingenol mebutate or diclofenac. These topical applications are most effective if there are several closely spaced lesions on the skin.
How long does actinic keratosis take to heal?
How long does it take for actinic keratosis to go away? Depending on the size and number of actinic keratoses (AKs), it can take up to three months for AKs to disappear after treatment ends. After the AKs go away, you will need to see your healthcare provider for a checkup once or twice a year.
How effective is fluorouracil?
Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of widespread multiple AK lesions has cure rates of more than 90 percent. The associated skin irritation, however, may lead patients to prematurely discontinue treatment.
Is fluorouracil like a chemical peel?
Chemical peeling can also be done to remove actinic keratoses. Chemical peeling works as well as fluorouracil for treating actinic keratosis and can be done in a single-treatment.
Does tretinoin get rid of actinic keratosis?
In several studies between 1962 and 1978, topical tretinoin was proved capable of producing complete regression of actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma.
How much fluorouracil should I apply?
Use Fluorouracil Cream USP, 0.5% (Microsphere) once a day as instructed by your doctor. Use it only on your skin. You should use Fluorouracil Cream USP, 0.5% (Microsphere) for up to 4 weeks. Clean the area where you will apply Fluorouracil Cream USP, 0.5% (Microsphere).
Does hydrocortisone help actinic keratosis?
Topical 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily for a week may reduce the symptoms. One of the biggest advantages of Efudix, is that an effective treatment may result in remission from actinic keratoses for up to five years before further treatment is required.
How long does fluorouracil take to work?
This usually takes at least 3 to 6 weeks, but may take as long as 10 to 12 weeks. During the first few weeks of treatment, the skin lesions and surrounding areas will feel irritated and look red, swollen, and scaly. This is a sign that fluorouracil is working.
Which is better imiquimod or fluorouracil?
CONCLUSION. We found that 5-fluorouracil appeared to be significantly more effective than imiquimod in the short-term, but not long-term, prevention of subsequent AKs.
Is two weeks of fluorouracil enough?
For treatment of precancers (actinic keratoses), if your skin is very irritated and the symptoms are really bothering you then you can stop after two weeks. However, if it is not bothering you too much you should try to treat for a full 4 weeks.
What happens if you use fluorouracil too long?
It is very important that you use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause your skin to become irritated.
What is the most common premalignant skin disease?
Actinic keratosis is one of the most common premalignant skin diseases, with a prevalence of 37.5% in white patients aged 50 years and older. Available treatments include cryotherapy for solitary lesions, phototherapy, and topical medications (e.g., fluorouracil cream).
What is actinic keratosis?
Treating Actinic Keratosis: A Randomized Trial. Patients with actinic keratoses (AKs), which can progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, often are treated with any of several “field-directed” therapies when they have areas with multiple lesions.
How old is Paul from the MBBS?
Published Mar 13, 2019 - Written by Angela Chen, MBBS, MPH. Paul is a 65-year-old man who has spent much of his life enjoying the outdoors. He belongs to a local surf club and continues to swim outdoors on a regular basis.
How long after AKs can you get a PDT?
Most patients with AKs need 2 PDT treatments, with the second treatment given 3 weeks after the first. Laser resurfacing: This may be a treatment option for actinic cheilitis, a precancerous growth on the lip.
How to treat actinic keratosis?
When you treat at home, you apply medication to your skin as directed .
How to diagnose AKs?
If you have one or more AKs on your skin, a board-certified dermatologist can often diagnose you by looking carefully at your skin. While examining your skin, your dermatologist will also look for signs of skin cancer.
What to do if you have an AK?
Should you have an AK, an accurate diagnosis and treatment can: Reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. Get rid of an AK, replacing it with new, healthy-looking skin. Help ease symptoms, such as itch, pain, or tenderness. Most people who have AKs (or think they may have an AK) see a dermatologist.
How long after a sunburn can you see new skin?
As the treated skin heals, you’ll see new, healthier skin. For 48 hours after treatment, you’ll need to avoid the outdoors during daylight. The UV light, even on a cloudy or snowy day, can cause a serious skin reaction. Your dermatologist will explain how to protect your skin so that you can get home.
How to treat AK?
Curettage: If you have an extremely thick AK, this may the best treatment. During this procedure, your dermatologist first scrapes the AK from your skin, using a technique called curettage. Your dermatologist may follow this with a electrodesiccation, which heats the treated area to destroy any remaining AK cells.
What happens after cryosurgery?
After cryosurgery, you may see crusting or a blister on your treated skin . This is normal and expected. Chemical peel: This is a medical-grade chemical peel used to destroy the top layers of skin. You cannot get this type of chemical peel at a salon or from a kit sold for home use.
What is the best treatment for actinic keratosis?
Topical treatments . Topical creams, gels and solutions are prescribed for use in patients with numerous or widespread actinic keratoses. The physician applies these creams and gels directly to affected areas of the skin to treat visible and invisible lesions with minimal risk of scarring.
What does it mean when you have AKs?
If you have one or more actinic keratoses (AKs), it’s a sign of skin damage that puts you at a high risk for developing skin cancer. Identifying and treating these precancerous lesions helps you reduce that risk.
What is photodynamic therapy?
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is especially effective as a one and done treatment to destroy lesions without harming healthy tissue. Learn more about photodynamic therapy (PDT) in our treatment glossary.
How to treat a swollen ear?
Your treatment options depend on how many lesions you have, where they are, your age and overall health. Options include: 1 Surgical procedures 2 Topical treatments 3 Photodynamic therapy 4 Combination therapy
How long does it take for skin to regrow after surgery?
There are several ways to remove the skin lesion with surgery, including: Chemical peel: The physician applies a chemical to the face, causing the top skin layers to peel off. New skin generally regrows within a few weeks.
What is the procedure to remove AK cells?
Cryosurgery: The physician applies liquid nitrogen to freeze the tissue, which eventually falls off, allowing healthy skin to emerge. Curettage and desiccation: The physician scrapes or shaves off the lesion, then uses heat or a chemical agent to destroy remaining AK cells and stop any bleeding.
Can cryosurgery increase photosensitivity?
Cryosurgery and a topical treatment. Topical treatments and PDT. Some of these combination therapies can increase photosensitivity. Be sure to check with your dermatologist and be especially careful about safeguarding your skin from UV rays during and after treatment.
How long does cryotherapy take?
As your skin heals, the damaged cells slough off, allowing new skin to appear. Cryotherapy is the most common treatment. It takes only a few minutes and can be done in your doctor's office. Side effects may include blisters, scarring, changes to skin texture, infection and changes in skin color of the affected area.
What are the side effects of photodynamic therapy?
Side effects may include redness, swelling and a burning sensation during therapy.
What are the side effects of a laser treatment?
Side effects may include infection, scarring and changes in skin color of the affected area. Laser therapy. This technique is increasingly used to treat actinic keratosis. Your doctor uses an ablative laser device to destroy the patch, allowing new skin to appear. Side effects may include scarring and discoloration of the affected skin.
What is the procedure called when a doctor cuts off tissue?
Scraping (curettage). In this procedure, your doctor uses a device called a curet to scrape off damaged cells. Scraping may be followed by electrosurgery, in which the doctor uses a pencil-shaped instrument to cut and destroy the affected tissue with an electric current. This procedure requires local anesthesia.
Can actinic keratosis be removed?
An actinic keratosis sometimes disappears on its own but might return after more sun exposure. It's hard to tell which actinic keratoses will develop into skin cancer, so they're usually removed as a precaution.
Can a doctor do a skin biopsy?
If there's any doubt, your doctor may do other tests, such as a skin biopsy. During a skin biopsy, your doctor takes a small sample of your skin for analysis in a lab. A biopsy can usually be done in a doctor's office after a numbing injection. Even after treatment for actinic keratosis, your doctor might suggest that you have your skin checked ...
Drugs used to treat Keratosis
The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.