Actinic keratosis is a skin condition characterized by rough, scaly patches that develop over time due to prolonged sun exposure. The spots typically appear on areas of your skin that are exposed to the most sun, such as your face, ears, lips, neck, scalp, chest, backs of your hands, or forearms.
About 58 million Americans have actinic keratosis, and it’s the most common form of skin precancer. While often harmless, it turns into skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) about 5-10% of the time, so it’s important to keep an eye out for actinic keratosis skin spots.
If you notice signs of actinic keratosis, consult our dermatology specialists at Vindhya Veerula MD—Integrative Dermatology & Laser Spa in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to safely and effectively eliminate precancerous spots.
Signs of actinic keratosis to watch out for include:
When left untreated, actinic keratosis increases the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer).
The following factors boost the chance of developing actinic keratosis:
Protecting your skin from the sun when outside and avoiding tanning beds are ways to reduce the risk of developing actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma.
If you suspect you have actinic keratosis, the experts at Vindhya Veerula MD—Integrative Dermatology & Laser Spa examine your skin, review your symptoms, and may take a skin biopsy to confirm a diagnosis and develop an effective treatment.
Your personalized treatment plan may include:
Your Vindhya Veerula MD—Integrative Dermatology & Laser Spa provider can prescribe medicated gels or creams to help eliminate actinic keratosis spots.
Cryotherapy involves freezing actinic keratosis using liquid nitrogen. It’s a common treatment that takes just a few minutes to complete in your dermatologist’s office.
Laser treatment uses a specialized device and laser energy to destroy pre-cancerous tissues, allowing newer, healthier skin cells to grow.
Your Vindhya Veerula MD—Integrative Dermatology & Laser Spa provider can use curettage (scraping) to remove pre-cancerous skin cells. They might also apply an electric current to the area to destroy affected tissues.
Your Vindhya Veerula MD—Integrative Dermatology & Laser Spa provider can apply a light-sensitive chemical solution to skin affected by actinic keratosis, and expose it to a specialized light that destroys the pre-cancerous cells.
Vindhya Veerula, MD—Integrative Dermatology & Laser Spa also offers chemical peels. Your specialist applies a chemical solution to the affected area to remove damaged cells on the skin’s top layers. They wash off or neutralize the chemical solution afterward.
During excision, your dermatologist cleans and numbs the affected area, removes the actinic keratosis, and closes the area with stitches if necessary.
If you suspect actinic keratosis, schedule an evaluation at Vindhya Veerula MD—Integrative Dermatology & Laser Spa. Call our office or request a visit online today.
