Actinic Keratosis

An Actinic Keratoses, or AK, is usually described as a small, rough spot on the skin surface that appears in areas that have been repeatedly exposed to the sun, such as the face, scalp, neck, arms, chest and hands.  AK’s are considered pre-cancerous, though may take years to develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.  Still, the epidermis must be monitored for them with regular skin cancer screenings, and AK's must be promptly removed if found.  Though fair-skinned people are most susceptible, AK’s can appear on any skin type or color.  The best way to avoid these potentially hazardous pre-cancerous lesions is to rigorously protect skin from exposure to Ultraviolet light from the sun.

Treatment:  Once detected, AK’s must be treated promptly by a board certified dermatologist.  Removal methods include cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen); excision; dermatological surgery; and laser/photodynamic surgery.

Laser and Other NYDG Treatments:

Blue Light
Blue Light with Levulan
V-Beam and VariLite Lasers

Cryotherapy
Skin Cancer Screening