Actinic Keratoses

Actinic (solar) keratoses are referred to as pre-cancers. They appear as scaly or crusty red patches on the skin surface, and are caused by repeated, prolonged sun exposure. They develop most commonly on sun-exposed areas, such as face, neck, bald scalp and back of the hands and forearms, in people with fair complexion, i.e. light skin color, blue eyes and blond or red hair.

Individuals who are immunosuppressed as a result of chemotherapy, AIDS or organ transplantation are also at higher risk. Anyone who spends time in the sun runs a high risk of developing actinic keratoses. Older people are more likely than young ones to have actinic keratoses because cumulative sun exposure increases with time.

Once sun damage has progressed to the point where actinic keratoses develop, new keratoses may appear even without further sun exposure. Protect yourself from future excessive sun exposure with protective clothing – faithful application of a sunscreen is strongly recommended.

Actinic Keratoses Treatment S Weymouth MA

Treatment modalities for actinic keratoses include freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy), surgical curettage, chemical peels, topical medications, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) (see pictures below). These options are available at GK Dermatology.

PDT: Before & After

Before

 

After

Actinic keratoses before and after PDT. If you like the results you see here, please call 781-812-1078 to schedule a consultation and learn more about this procedure.