Actinic keratoses
Actinic Keratoses (AKs) are precancerous, rapidly developing cells that occur within sun damaged skin. AKs appear as a group of crusty, scaly spots which commonly develop on the face, scalp, lips, neck and arms of people with light skin and hair. If untreated, a small subset of AKs can evolve into Squamous Cell Carcinoma. It is our goal to treat AKs early to avoid them growing into skin cancer.
We resolve AKs with cryotherapy (freezing), photodynamic therapy (chemical application followed by light exposure) and tough prescription topical creams.
If you have AKs, or if they appear in your family history, it is imperative that you take preventative measures to avoid UV rays as much as possible. Wear protective clothing, hats, full-coverage sunglasses and a broad spectrum (UVA & UVB protective) sunscreen when in the sun. Avoid sun exposure, especially from 10am through 4pm. Schedule annual skin checks to make sure we catch AKs before they evolve.
