According to The American Academy of Dermatology, Actinic Keratoses are precancerous, scaly-looking lesions found on the face, neck, ears, nose or any skin area that have undergone prolonged exposure to the sun. There are many treatment options for these: liquid nitrogen, light therapy, and multiple prescription creams. A recent study has revealed a new way of using a combined therapy of two creams: 5 fluorouracil and calcipotriene, allowing for a faster response and recovery time for many patients.
What Are Actinic Keratoses?
Actinic Keratosis (AK) a precancerous condition that if left untreated, could develop into a squamous cell skin cancer. Dermatologists usually identify the lesions with a basic skin evaluation and may recommend removal to prevent the lesions from becoming Squamous Cell skin cancer.
What Treatments Have Been Used To Treat AKs?
Several treatments have been used as preventative measures for single or isolated lesions from progressing to squamous cell skin cancer.
- Freezing the area with liquid nitrogen.
- Surgical removal.
- Chemical peels.
- Laser Surgery.
- “Multiple lesions may require more aggressive treatments,” explains Jennifer Jordan, a physician assistant at Sanova Dermatology in Austin, Texas. Topical treatment including Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been a standard treatment for multiple or widespread lesions.
What Side Effects Are Experienced With Traditional Treatments?
- Cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen (freezing the lesion): used for one or only a few lesions. Skin blisters, peels, then regenerate.
- Surgical Removal: used for one or isolated lesions. The physician surgically scrapes lesion off. Redness with some blistering may occur before new skin regenerates.
- Chemical peel: used for one or a few lesions. Skin peels before new skin regeneration begins.
- Laser surgery: laser vaporizes lesion leaving some redness and possible blistering while skin renews.
- Topical prescriptions: an example is Fluorouracil (5FU) in combination with other agents for widespread lesions. “This treatment requires repeated applications for many days while the skin becomes reddened and blistered,” shares PA Jordan. Side effects are a sometimes difficult and uncomfortable process for the patient who needs to be out in the world on a daily basis.
Improved Outcomes Seen With Efudex & Calcipotriene
- Treatment is applied and completed in four days
- Substantially less time and discomfort in recovery
- Acts as Immunotherapy in preventing progression to a cancerous state
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, “treatment with the combination of topical chemotherapy and an immune system–activating compound reduced the risk of squamous cell carcinoma development on the face and scalp by almost 75%.”
Contact Us
If you are concerned about a skin lesion of any kind, please contact us for an individual assessment and treatment plan with our Dermatology group.