ACTINIC KERATOSES: PRE-MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis)

• Sun related skin damage. – Most common sun related skin growth. – Usually seen in people who are fair skinned, burn

easily, and tan poorly. – Rare in people of darker skin tone.

• Thought to be a precursor to skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma.

• Development is directly proportional to sun exposure.

AK Description and Locations

• Single or multiple flat or elevated scaly lesions. They usually have a rough texture.

• Can be white, yellowish, or brown with scaling. Sometimes they have redness underneath.

• Most often seen in the background of sun-damaged skin.

• Commonly found on the: – nose/temples/forehead/bald areas of scalp/ tops of

ears/backs of the hands and forearms/ upper chest/upper lip/back of the neck

Actinic Keratoses

Actinic Keratoses

Treatment

The best treatment is prevention! Treatments • Cryosurgery (destruction) with liquid nitrogen • Topical chemotherapy (Interferes with DNA

synthesis. Destroys dysplastic cells and spares normal cells): Efudex, Carac

• Immunotherapy (local inducer of interferon): Aldara

• Photodynamic therapy: generates oxygen derived free radicals resulting in cell death in dysplastic cells

About DuPage Medical Group

DuPage Medical Group has 10 dermatologists located throughout the western suburbs that treat people of all ages for common to advanced skin ailments. If you would like to make an appointment with a DMG dermatologist, please call any of the numbers listed below or visit our website at www.dupagemedicalgroup.com/services/dermatology for more information.

Glen Ellyn Hinsdale Lombard Naperville Naperville Plainfield Wheaton

430 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 180

908 N. Elm St., Suite 202

1801 S. Highland Ave., Suite L40

2155 City Gate Lane, Suite 225

640 S. Washington St., Suite 350

12004 S. Rt. 59, Suite 100

199 Town Square, Suite A, C & D

630-545-7855 630-286-5050 630-286-5050 630-547-5040 630-547-5040 630-547-5040 630-871-6690