Treatment of Actinic Keratosis
What is Actinic Keratosis?
Actinic Keratosis (AK) is a rough, scaly patch on the skin caused by long-term sun exposure. It’s considered precancerous because it can sometimes turn into squamous cell carcinoma if not treated.
Why treat it?
Prevent skin cancer
Improve skin appearance
Relieve discomfort (itching, burning)
Treatment options
Cryotherapy (Freezing)
- Quick in-office procedure using liquid nitrogen
- The spot may blister, scab, and peel off
- Healing time: 1-3 weeks
- Aftercare: Keep clean, apply oitment as directed
Topical Medications
Used at home to treat visible and hidden lesions over a few weeks.
- 5-Fluorouracil (Efudex, Carac)
- Diclofenac (Solaraze)
- Tirbanibulin (Klisyri)
What to expect:
- Redness, crusting, and irritation - this means it's working
- Healing may take several weeks
- Aftercare: Follow directions carefully, moisturize as advised
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
- A light-activated medication is applied, then activated by a special light
- Targets damaged cells with minimal effect on health skin
- Downtime: Redness and peeling for a few days
- Avoid sunlight for 48 hours after treatment
Curettage & Electrodessication
- Scraping the lesion, followed by light burning to destroy remaining cells
- Used for thicker or resistant lesions
- May leave a small scar
- Done under local anesthesia
After treatment
It may look worse before it looks better - that's normal
Sun protection is key: Use SPF 30+ daily
Schedule regular skin checks to catch new spots early
