Actinic keratosis is a skin condition caused by frequent exposure to sunlight or UV rays in tanning beds. Symptoms can include rough, scaly patches of skin; a hard wart-like skin texture; color variations, including pink, red, or brown; and skin that itches, burns, or bleeds. Patients are most likely to notice formations of actinic keratosis on areas of the skin exposed to direct sunlight.

Patients at the highest risk of developing actinic keratosis include women and men with fair hair and light skin; people who work outside or recreationally spend a lot of time in the sun; those over the age of 40; and people with weakened immune systems. While these factors do increase the likelihood that a person will develop actinic keratosis, anyone who is concerned about their skin should schedule an appointment with a licensed dermatologist. Patients who think they have identified an actinic keratosis but aren’t certain should seek the expertise of a licensed medical professional.

While actinic keratosis is often benign, it is a type of pre-cancer. This means that when left untreated, an actinic keratosis can become cancerous, developing into a type of skin cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma in roughly five to 10 percent of cases. Fortunately, squamous cell carcinoma is highly treatable, and the earlier a medical professional can identify and treat the problem, the better the outcome. Treatments for actinic keratosis at NY’s Hudson Dermatology are also highly effective and minimally invasive.

If the patient has only a few lesions, actinic keratoses can be easily treated with a liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy that induces the damaged precancerous skin to peel off without scarring.

The Hudson Dermatology team most frequently uses topical medications to target more extensive AKs. Our dermatologists commonly prescribe 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod, which are applied directly to the lesions. After routine application for several weeks at home, patients will find that their sun-damaged cells begin to flake and peel away.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment used to address a wide variety of conditions, including actinic keratosis. At Hudson Dermatology, we use PDT only for AK and to improve the sun-damaged skin in general. Treatment occurs in two phases: During the first phase, a medical professional applies a liquid photosensitizing agent known as Aminolevulinic acid, or ALA, to the skin being treated. This agent is left on the skin for several hours, during which the medication is absorbed by the porous, damaged precancerous cells of actinic keratoses, while healthy cells do not absorb it. The medicine is then converted by the cells into a substance that is highly sensitive to light.