Actinic Keratosis Treatment In Fort Lauderdale, Fl

What is Actinic Keratosis?

Actinic Keratosis (AK) are flaky, rough lesions on the skin caused by excessive UVA/UVB radiation exposure. They may appear skin-colored toned or red and are usually seen on the face, shoulders, ears, and other areas commonly exposed to the sun. They may swell or feel sensitive to touch in some cases. Patients usually complain of scaly spots that they keep picking but continue to return. 

Typically actinic keratoses are a concern of adults 40 years or older. Actinic keratoses are considered a form of pre-cancer. Left untreated, actinic keratosis have a risk of becoming a skin cancer, specifically squamous cell carcinoma. Your dermatologist may suggest removing actinic keratoses as a treatment option to avoid cancer risk. 

Risk Of Developing Actinic Keratosis

Limiting your exposure to the sun is the best way to reduce the risk of developing actinic keratosis. You should be aware of other risks which include:

• The accumulation of sun and the skin damage it creates builds up throughout our lives. Those over the age of 40 are at greater risk.
• Live or have spent a great deal of time living in a sunny environment
• Have a fair skin complexion such as blond or red hair or light-colored eyes.
• Tendency to freckle in sunlight
• Have a history of sunburns
• Have a personal history of developing actinic keratosis
• Have a lower immune system such as patients with HIV, organ transplant, or have received cancer treatment

Actinic Keratosis Treatments

It is best to consult your dermatologist if you believe you may have actinic keratosis. Cryotherapy or cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen is the most common treatment for actinic keratosis. If several lesions are present, other treatment options such as topical treatments and light therapy may also be used to treat actinic keratosis.