ACTINIC KERATOSIS TREATMENT

If you’re spending a lot of time in the sun this summer, and not taking the proper measures to protect your skin, then there’s a good chance you’ll develop a precancerous skin condition called actinic keratosis (act-in-ic kerr-a-toe-sis). But at least, there’s some promising new research just released that shows a better way to stop these precancerous lesions from becoming full fledged skin cancer.

Spending a lot of time in the sun without taking proper precautions could lead to actinic keratosis, a pre-cancerous skin condition. But promising new research shows that there is a way to stop these precancerous lesions from becoming full fledged skin cancer.

The new research in the Archives of Dermatology shows combining two powerful treatments that stop actinic keratosis in its tracks makes an even more powerful one--providing more benefit for those, like John Colgan, who took in a bit too much sun over their lifetime.

“I’m a beach person in fact when I was in high school. I was in the sun all the time,” recalls John. “I thought it was just a wart and I’ve had warts before in my lifetime and I thought it would go away after a while and this one did not go away.” John got skin cancer and precancerous skin lesions known as actinic keratosis. It’s often a scaly rough patch that is the same color as that of normal skin. Occasionally it itches or produces a pricking or tender sensation. It can also become inflamed and surrounded by redness. In rare instances, actinic keratoses can even bleed.

Typically it does none of these, or it can simply be different colors, such as tan or red. But ten percent go on to full fledged skin cancer. “This stuff is hard and firm it’s adherent,” says Dr. Sharon Schrel, Chief of Dermatology at Englewood Medical Center, New Jersey.

Actinic keratosis is actually also known as solar keratosis. Chronic sun exposure is usually the cause of this problem. And even small amounts of sun damage to the skin accumulate over time, which contributes to the likelihood of developing this precancerous skin lesion.
Actinic keratosis is typically treated with either liquid nitrogen which freezes the lesion, creating a localized gangrene that kills the tissue, or by using this anti-cancer cream… 5-FU, which stops the cells from dividing.

“The idea is to destroy a growth so that it doesn’t become a cancer. We’re often fighting a losing battle because as we get rid of some pre-cancers, they get more,” says Dr. Schrel.
But now, new research shows by combining the treatments--by using the 5-FU daily for a week, waiting four weeks, and then freezing the lesions--there are on average much fewer actinic keratosis lesions on follow up six months later.

There are some precancers that may be too thick or too large for the 5-FU to be absorbed. This was a small study of only 140 patients, and the doctor with whom we spoke says that may affect the results.

“The standard therapy for using 5-FU can be difficult because it’s so irritating to the skin that patients, in New York and elsewhere, don’t tolerate it very well. I think that the study is an interesting study, I think that it’s an interesting regimen to try on some patients and I do believe it will be effective for some patients but not all patients,” says Dr. Schrel.