Actinic & Seborrheic Keratosis Treatment Options

Keratosis is a skin condition caused by excessive keratin on skin. Keratin is the main component of human hair and fingernail and toenails. Excessive amounts of this can be bad for the skin. There are many types of keratoses, each varying in nature and causes.

Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratosis also goes by the name solar keratosis and senile keratosis. AK is said to be caused by too much exposure to the sun’s UV radiation and is associated with old age, thus it is sometimes called solar keratosis or senile keratosis. Squamous cell carcinoma can be derived from lesions brought about by actinic keratosis. Actinic keratosis are wart like growths which is rough, scaly but non viral. Actinic keratosis must be removed right away to prevent it to developing into cancer.

Actinic Keratosis Treatments
The good news is that there is a wide range of medication available for actinic keratosis. It could be surgical or non surgical. Laser treatments, cryotherapy and electrocautery are some of the surgical treatments presented for actinic keratosis. These kinds of surgery are recommended for severe cases. There are also non surgical treatments, you only need to apply some sort of creams.

Imiquimod, popularly by the trade names Aldara and Beselna can treat actinic keratosis. It’s under the immune response modifier kind of drugs. A doctor’s prescription is needed to acquire the drug. The skin could look unsightly during treatments and major discomforts could be experienced. But the result after the treatment is satisfying.

5-flourouracil is the standard name for drugs such as Carac. The drug is a topical cream also used for chemotherapy. Application of the cream with fingers is recommended instead of metal applicators. Swelling, pain and itching can happen on the treated area. In rare chances, discoloration of the skin and scars can occur. But these are just experienced during treatment. Prior to the use of the drug, you must let your doctor know if you are taking any forms of medicine. Fluorouracil can have adverse effects on a pregnant or lactating woman, so it must be avoided. You should limit sun exposure plus the use of sunscreens when using Efudex.
A medical recommendation is necessary before you go through any sort of treatment.

Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis resembles actinic keratosis, but in this case, it has waxy or greasy characteristics. An SK is also not as dangerous as an AK since it is noncancerous. Keratinocytes on the upper layer of the epidermis are liable for this. They also resemble warts because of its pasted on appearance and sometimes associated with old age, thus it is also referred to as the barnacles of old age. The main reason it occurs is still unidentified.

Seborrheic Keratosis Treatments
Treatments for actinic keratosis can also be employed for seborrheic keratosis such as cryosurgery, laser and electrocautery. Electodessication and curettage is used for cases that are big enough. A scalpel is used in place of a curette in a process called surgical excision.

If you already have these skin diseases healed, then you must take care of your skin in future. Keratoses can become worse if not taken care of accordingly. You should always see a skin specialist who will advise the best form of keratosis treatment for you.

Actinic Keratosis And Its Implications

Actinic keratosis is a kind of pathologic condition that is identified by patches or bumps that are usually flat and raised, scaly, thick, or crusty. Other terms used to refer to this condition are senile keratosis and solar keratosis. It is commonly known as sun spot or precancerous spot. This is commonly called as “AK” by dermatologists Its measure ranges from that of a pinhead up to more than an inch across. Its color may be light or dark, pink, red, tan, or a combination of these colors.

Actinic keratosis can be easily recognized by touching it rather than seeing it. The scale or the crust is horn-like, dry and rough. A scorching sharp pain can be sensed most of the time. An individual can experience itchiness most especially after being exposed in the sun. Many actinic keratoses are more likely to appear in cluster in areas that are most likely to be exposed in the sun. Most common areas are backs of hands, lips, face, ears, neck, foreams, and scalp that is bald.

Considering that it may be a sign of skin cancer development, this condition is said to be harmful. Granting that there is early cancer detection and medical assistance is undergone, this cannot be threatening to one’s life. Without needed medical attention, actinic keratoses are most likely to grow bigger and invade the surrounding tissues as the infection worsens.

Damage coming from the sun to the skin can be collected over time. One thing to consider is the bouncing off of ultraviolet on surfaces that reflect. Those who have fair skins are most likely to have this kind of skin condition. Likewise, People who have red or blonde hair, and those who have blue, green, or gray eyes are responsive to this condition. This is so because they have lesser pigments that protect their skins that are repulsive to sunburn. Dark-colored skins may likewise be affected by this condition.

Handful kinds of treatments can be pondered over for the treatment of actinic keratosis. Nevertheless, not all actinic keratosis necessitates removal. One of the most typical treatment is called cryosurgery. This is done through application of liquid nitrogen which in turn freezes off lesions. Utilized here is an applicator with a cottop tip or a special spray device.

If there are many lesions, an effective treatment is through applying keratosis removal cream. Chemical peels and curettage are other ways that can be thought of for the treatment.

To sum it all up, it is highly advised by many skin doctors to seek them first if you want to learn more regarding this condition.

What You Need To Know About Age Spots

Dark marks on the skin surface are popularly known as age spots or liver spots. Scientifically speaking, age spots are due to being exposed to the sun and thus called as solar lengtingines.   Black, brown, and gray are the usual color of these. The sizes are from the size of a freckle to larger spots that are centimeter across. Usually, age spots appear in a group, but it can also stand alone.

The parts of the body where age spots typically appear are those that receive prolonged exposure to the sun. The most common areas are hand, shoulder, arm, and face. The appearance of age spots is not new to people who are over 40 years old. But then again, age spots may also be experienced by younger people depending on the sun exposure.

A spot on the surface of the skin may be a manifestation of a more serious mark, so the attention of a medical physician like a dermatologist is necessary in order to verify the mark. There is normally an increase on the pigmentation in the skin when there is an age spot. The shape of an age spot is normally oval and flat.

A multi-colored, raised, and irregularly shaped spot may mean a complicated mark. You can request for assistance from a physician in determining this. Skin cancer may be present because of this harmful spot.

By means of using sunscreens, you can be able to get away from having age spots. Sunscreens are able to prevent the ultraviolet rays produced by the sun. Melanin causes the dark discoloration of the skin. The production of melanin is quickened whenever there is no protection against ultraviolet rays.

Age spot development may also be contributed by genetics.   Age spots are more likely appearing on individuals who have freckles or fair skins. Conversely, those who have lighter skins has less natural protection from the UV rays.

Appearance of age spots in the skin may also be attributed to aging itself. Because of aging, there is an increase of the production of melanin, which manifests marks.

There are certain ways you can take in order to remove age spots. Many people do not consider its being harmless because they are not good to look at. Age spots can be treated via bleaching, cryotherapy, laser removal, chemical skin peels, and dermabrasion. However, proactive prevention like the utilization of broad-spectrum sunscreens is recommended by skin doctors over expensive treatments.

Be Careful About Precancerous Actinic Keratosis

Skin cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed of all cancers, exceeding even colorectal, prostate, breast, and lung cancer. Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the population’s 20 – 39 age bracket. Unknown to by many, actinic keratosis is precancerous and has been confirmed to potentially progress into squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer. Studies prove that actinic keratosis lesions have a 20% possibility of becoming cancerous unless given attention.

Otherwise known as solar keratosis or senile keratosis, actinic keratosis often appears as small, rough patches of skin that are 2-6 mm each in diameter. Often painful as well as sore, the actinic keratoses are colored red. On several occasions, the lesions are covered with yellowish scales that can also appear as white.

Research studies have proven that actinic keratosis may lead to skin cancer which makes it a risky skin condition.

Over exposure to the sun’s rays is the principal cause of solar keratosis, especially if you stay outside for a very long time under the sun. Fair-skinned individuals are more at risk with regards to this skin condition, especially when they go outside without protection from the sun.

Actinic keratosis commonly afflicts the forearms as well as upper part of the hands the most often. This is because these parts are often the most exposed to the sun. The face, scalp, and nape are also major places for the actinic keratosis lesions to appear. For some, even their legs get affected with the skin condition.

It is highly advised that lesions from actinic keratosis be immediately removed once diagnosed. Upon seeing such reddish lesions, visit your dermatologist as soon as possible. Have the doctor determine if the patches of reddish skin are precancerous. Once the dermatologist diagnoses your lesions as those caused by actinic keratosis, it is time to move quickly. When it comes to cancer, time is of the essence. The sooner that the cancer is treated, the better the chances are of you being healed.

Usage of creams is done by some for actinic keratosis treatment. Photodynamic creams or those that come with imiquimod, diclofenac, or 5-fluorouracil are applied in skin therapy to treat actinic keratosis. One more method is by the application of lasers. Cryosurgery is another choice while the burning/cutting of the keratoses is another.

Regardless of the type of treatment you use for your actinic keratosis, make sure that your doctor may be relied upon as well as is competent. Such precancerous lesions may be your end if you are not serious with your treatment.