Facts About Actinic Keratoses (AKs)

The most common areas excessively exposed to the sun are the face, scalp, lower lip and the backs of hands. Anyone who has many AKs should be seen by a dermatologist for treatment and skin cancer monitoring. If left untreated, AKs have the potential to turn into a type of skin cancer called Squamous Cell Carcinoma, which requires surgery for treatment.  

A few symptoms to watch for are:

• Red to brown dry, rough scaly, patch on skin that doesn’t heal
• Crusty or hard growth that feels tender to touch
• Lips that feel constantly dry, scaly or discolored

If you see any of these signs on your own skin, you should see a dermatologist. People who have AKs also have a higher risk of getting skin cancer. By seeing a dermatologist for regular checkups, the AKs can be treated before they become cancerous.  

Treatment Options

There are many treatments for AKs. Some treatments can be performed in the office by your dermatologist, while other treatments can be done at home. The goal of treatment is to destroy the AKs and replace them with normal, healthy skin. Some patients may receive more than one type of treatment. Treatments for AKs include:

In-Office Procedures

• Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy
• Chemical Peels
• Photodynamic Therapy (PDT with Levulan and blue light)

Prescription Medicine

Your dermatologist may prescribe a medicine that you can use at home to treat AKs. Medicines that dermatologists prescribe include:

• 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cream (Efudex, Carac, Tolak)
• Imiquimod cream (Aldara)
• Ingenol mebutate gel (Picato)