Do you have rough, dry, scaly patches on your skin? Actinic keratosis is not unusual for people who have been exposed to a lot of sun damage. While the condition can transform into squamous cell skin cancer, if treated early, this transformation can be prevented. We provide effective cryosurgery, topical chemotherapy, and topical immunotherapy treatments to eliminate these precancerous lesions.
How Does Actinic Keratosis Occur?
Actinic damage happens when ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or tanning beds hit our skin. As we age, our bodies find it harder to repair this damage. After a lot of sun damage, actinic keratosis is likely to follow. The best way to prevent this condition from occurring is to apply sunscreen and avoid spending too much time under the sun or on tanning beds.
What Are the Symptoms?
AK often appears as small dry, scaly, or crusty patches on the skin. These patches may be red, light or dark tan, white, pink, flesh-toned, or a combination of colors. In some cases, the patches may be rough and gritty to the touch. If you notice any rough or gritty patches on sun-exposed areas of your body, we welcome you to visit our Mesa, Arizona office.
Treating Actinic Keratosis With Cryosurgery
If you have actinic keratoses on your body, a cryosurgery procedure may be a good option. This common procedure involves the application of liquid nitrogen to your AK patches. This treatment causes a controlled and localized frost-bite-like reaction in the pre-cancerous lesions, eventually causing them to blister and fall off.
This treatment is performed in-office while you remain awake. After cryosurgery, you may see crusting or a blister on your treated skin. This is normal and expected. AK typically falls off after one treatment, but in some cases, two may be required. At Sagebrush Dermatology, we also offer counseling on proper skin care and nutrition that can help reduce or prevent future actinic keratoses.
Schedule an Actinic Keratosis Treatment in Mesa, Arizona
The appearance of rough, scaly patches on the skin can be a cause for concern. If you think you may have actinic keratosis, our Sagebrush Dermatology team can help. We offer effective cryosurgery treatments to eliminate these patches and prevent them from turning into squamous cell skin cancer. Schedule an appointment today by filling out the form below or giving us a call at 480-681-DERM (3376).