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Posts Tagged ‘keratosis treatment’

Have you ever had skin lesions? Have you felt scared when uncovering what lesion it is? Did you ever think to yourself, “Wait. Is this an insect bite, rash or is this already a symptom of a more serious disease?” Well, instead of just sitting and worrying, start doing something about it. So you have the depiction of the lesion on your skin, now is the time to capitalize on books and internet. But if a reliable medical book or internet source says it is a sign of a far more threatening disease, get seen by a doctor immediately.

In the following sentences, our focus will be seborrheic keratosis – just one of the teeming skin lesions previously identified. Keratosis is the medical term for the extra growth on the skin of its inherent protein named keratin. The colour usually varies from brown to light yellow and sometimes even black. You can find its lesions to be either smooth or raised above the surface of the skin – which is the case most often. And although normally small, it can increase up to one inch in diameter. Usually, it is spheroid or rectangular shaped. It can be mixed up with a wart but it is different as it is not of a viral cause. Seborrheic Keratosis tends to appear in groups than to appear as a single lesion. The front or the back chest is the common location where this is found but it is not only on the thorax. What makes seborrheic keratosis most recognizable is is its slick or oily appearance. You will be content to know that pain is not a symptom of this type of keratosis. Although, if it becomes irritable , there may be inflammation which causes the lesion to turn red, warm, edematous, painful and sometimes, bleeding and darkening of its color. As you have noticed, there is nothing to worry about or is there?

“What if this can cause cancer?”, is something most of you might have queried. But first, let us talk about skin cancer. Skin cancer is thought of as the most common cancer type. In the U.S.A, one out of eight eventually acquires skin cancer. Since anyone can easily assess the skin, any condition of the skin is readily detected. As a result, any skin abnormality receives the appropriate treatment at once. Skin cancer comes in 3 types accordingly names to the cell type from which they originate. The most prevalent cancer of the skin is the basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Though basal cell carcinoma is fatal, its development is slow and it rarely undergoes metastasis. It starts with the appearance of a tiny, crystal nodule. Then it grows and spreads resulting to an ulcer at the center. The second most typical skin cancer is the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In contrast, this has a speedy growth, undergoes metastasis, its consistency is firmer and its colour is much redder. The final type, malignant melanoma is most known for having the largest death rate. Its characteristics can be explained using the mnemonic ABCDE. It shows assymetry, irregular borders, fluctuation in color, a 6 millimeter or larger diameter and elevation.

So, is it a type of malignant tumor? It absolutely does not as opposed to actinic keratosis which leads to squamous cell carcinoma. Seborrheic keratosis, to our surprise, is a benign skin condition. You only have to worry about the lesser problems, namely, flaw of your physical appearance and possible irritation of the lesion.

Actinic Keratosis Removal Video

There are three types of keratosis: actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, and keratosis pilaris. The most common type of keratosis is actinic keratosis. Ignoring actinic keratosis may in the worst cases result in having skin cancer.

Actinic keratosis is also referred to as solar keratosis due to its connection with the sun and it can be seen in the outermost layer of the skin known as the epidermis. It is usually recognized by the abnormality of the keratinocytes which mainly compose the epidermis. Known to be a skin condition that is precancerous, actinic keratosis may lead to the formation of squamous cell carcinoma especially when disregarded. The affected individual is suggested to keep an eye on the condition of the skin because actinic keratosis may lead to squamous cell carcinoma.

This skin condition is common in older men especially those who have fair skin. But then again, there are instances when the early existences of actinic keratosis are apparent by the age of 30. Those individuals who are likely to be exposed to the sun are basically the ones who are commonly affected by actinic keratosis. The parts of the body where the growth is usually present are the face, the neck, the back of the hands the forearms, and even the legs, as these are the areas that are highly exposed to the sun. A bald mans scalp and ears have no protection from the hair and so they can often be at risk of actinic keratosis.

The skin needs to be felt in order to detect actinic keratosis early. More often than not, the small regions are bumpy and light brown. The small region of the growth may become reddish or pink later on when it develops. From one millimeter to two centimeters in diameter, the size of a lesion may vary. There are times when the growth becomes noticeably thicker than the others as it develops in an outward fashion.

There are two primary causes of actinic keratosis:

The most basic cause of actinic keratosis is the exposure of the affected individual to carcinogenic factors. Being highly exposed to the sun may be the reason why actinic keratosis is present. The accumulated lifetime sun exposure has something to do with this skin condition. Ultraviolet light is known to be a carcinogenic factor that commonly causes actinic keratosis to those who have recreational activities out in the open. There are also some chemicals that may increase the risk of having skin cancer. One chemical that works this way is arsenic. Likewise, with radiotherapy and other ionizing radiations, there is a higher chance of developing skin cancer.

Another root of actinic keratosis is genetics. There are cases wherein genetic syndromes cause skin cancers to develop although it is extremely rare.

Never forget that it is the right thing to check your body frequently. When hesitant, turn to your doctor for a consultation about your skin condition.

The use of liquid nitrogen otherwise known as cryosurgery, curettage, laser, electrocautery or surgical excision all aid in removing keratosis – the first being the most common is the second-most common procedure behind surgical procedures such as skin excision as it can easily be carried out in the doctor’s surgery.

In cryotherapy, extreme cold is applied to the affected area of the body to freeze off unwanted skin lesions including warts, actinic and seborrheic keratosis. Due to failed trials in removing deeper and thicker lesions, this procedure is advisable only for superficial or flat lesions.

Now, let us try to comprehend the mechanism of cryotherapy! Cryotherapy constricts the blood vessels at the site of the injury or in the case of keratoses, at the lesions’ site. This blood vessel constriction, most commonly referred to vasoconstriction in medicine, results in a reduction in the blood flow to the site. Oxygen supply, along with other fundamental nutrients needed for a cell’s survival, decreases due to insufficient blood supply. In the end, the cells then expire – a process called necrosis.

Examples of the chemicals used in cryotherapy to yield extremely low temperatures, called cryogens, are liquid nitrogen, carbon dioxide snow and DMEP or dimethyl ether and propane. The cryogen that doctors most commonly use is liquid nitrogen due to its low boiling point and therefore, its efficiency in freezing off lesions.

The first step of the treatment is when liquid nitrogen is directly placed on the patient’s treatment area using a cotton-tipped applicator, a spraygun or a probe. Then, the heat from the skin instantly transfers to the liquid nitrogen making it evaporate quickly, usually within a minute or so. Following this brief freezing period is the thawing process which is endured for longer. This is the time that the actual cell injury starts to occur – when the intracellular contents begin to leak out. Lastly, cell inflammation, characterized by skin redness, edema or swelling, pain and warmth, occurs as the cells’ final response to cell death.

There are generally minimal adverse effects when the physician performs the treatment according to the guidelines. But as with other treatment methods, one cannot guarantee there will be no potential complications. Such is the effect of prolonged freezing by the liquid nitrogen which shows as a whiter skin color of the area treated than the surrounding skin, commonly referred to as hypopigmentation.

Due to its dangerous effect on skin exposed through direct contact, liquid nitrogen is still regarded highly dangerous despite not making it under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s list of hazardous materials. Exposure to liquid nitrogen can be through inhalation or direct contact. Inhalation effects are not that toxic unless a significant amount of liquid nitrogen is spilled, thereby reducing oxygen levels prompting the need for respirators. Extreme care must therefore be observed during its transportation.

When transferring liquid nitrogen into smaller containers, it can splash into the direction of the eyes causing injury such as a cryogenic burn. Or there can be accidental direct contact with the skin.

Everyone must therefore conform to safety protocols when dealing with liquid nitrogen. Always wear goggles, face shields or masks, gloves, aprons or other encapsulating suits when handling any objects with liquid nitrogen or liquid nitrogen itself. People without the first line of defense from liquid nitrogen should leave an area exposed to leaks. And if liquid nitrogen ever comes in contact with the skin, and not during a planned cryotherapy procedure, the frozen skin should be soaked in water that is 41-46 degrees Celsius in temperature before immediately consulting a doctor.

When the skin has excessive keratin, it could lead to keratosis. Our hair and nails are mostly composed of keratin. When it is produced excessively, skin problems like keratosis can occur. There are many types of keratoses, each varying in nature and causes.

Actinic Keratosis
Solar keratosis or senile keratosis is actinic keratosis technically. AK is said to be caused by too much exposure to the sun’s UV radiation and is associated with old age, thus it is sometimes called solar keratosis or senile keratosis. Squamous cell carcinoma can be obtained from lesions brought about by actinic keratosis. It is commonly characterized by being thick, crusty and wart like bumps, occurring on sun exposed areas of the skin. Since it is one of the skin cancer warning signs, it must be paid attention to and removed with the recommendation of a dermatologist.

Actinic Keratosis Treatments
There are many treatments for skin that have actinic keratosis. Non surgical or surgical procedures can be chosen. Surgical treatments include cryotherapy (use of liquid nitrogen in freezing off), electrocautery (uses electricity in burning off) and laser (Er-YAG lasers). These kinds of surgery are recommended for severe cases. If you fear surgeries, there are creams which can assist remove actinic keratosis.

Aldara and Beselna are common imiquimod creams. It alters the immune response of a person. You need a doctor’s prescription to get this. The skin could look unpleasant during treatments and major discomforts could be experienced. But after all the things you need to bear, you’ll be satisfied with the result.

5-flourouracil is an anti cancer drug, and Efudex is a brand name for it. It is commonly used for chemotherapy but it performs for actinic keratosis as well. It is a topical cream, applied on the skin by the patient. Side effects include inflammation, itchiness, and pain on the area where the cream is applied. In other cases, skin staining and scarring also happens. It could be observed that these things are only experienced while being treated. Before using Efudex, one must disclose to his or her doctor the drugs you are taking. Fluorouracil can have adverse effects on a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, so it must be avoided. Precautions in using Efudex also include avoidance of sun exposure, and use of sunscreen with SPF 15 and above.
Consult your doctor first before choosing a treatment to be safe.

Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis is similar to an actinic keratosis, but in this case, it has waxy or greasy characteristics. An SK could not lead to cancer. Keratinocytes on the upper layer of the epidermis are liable for this. The appearance of seborrheic keratosis contributes to its name “barnacles of old age”. The main reason it occurs is still unknown.

Seborrheic Keratosis Treatments
Treatments for seborrheic keratosis consist of cryosurgery and electrocautery. dehydrating the SK up and peeling it off is used for bigger cases. Surgical excision employs a scalpel in removing the affected areas.

If you already have these skin afflictions remedied, then you must take care of your skin in future. Keratoses could occur again if you become careless about your beauty regime. You should always see a doctor who will advise the best form of keratosis treatment for you.