Dear Stuart,
I am so sorry to hear about your skin problem. Actinic or solar keratoses are common and are caused by excessive sun exposure. If there are only few of them and they are small and mild, like in you case, you can either monitor them or treat them - this is really your choice. The risk of them becoming a skin cancer is very small. If one has significant actinic keratoses the risk increases. In any case you should be sensible and use sun protection in future.
Treatment options:
1) Solaraze gel - very mild, not very effective. Duration of treatment - 3 months.
All other below treatments are approximately equal in efficacy.
2) actikerall - designed for very thick/hard actini keratoses. Duration of treatment - 3 months.
3) Freezing (liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. Instant. May need to be repeated.
4) Efudix cream - daily fro 1 month.
5) aldara cream - 3 times weekly for 1 month.
6) picato gel - daily for 3 days o scalp/face; for 2 days on body.
7) photodynamic therapy (lamp or day light) - one off procedure, very large areas can be treated simultaneously. Minimal symptoms.
You can read more about actinic keratoses and available treatments on my website
www.alexandroff.org.uk I hope this is helpful.
With Best Wishes,
Dr Anton Alexandroff FRCP(UK) PhD CCT(Derm) FRSM FAAD
Consultant Dermatologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer
The British Skin Foundation Spokesperson
London, Cambridge, Leicester and Bedford
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