Actinic Keratosis

[imoldernu]

After seeing many mentions of Actinic Keratosis here on ER, thought to mention an option... (Only with Doctor's Approval)

As a "victim" ... A solution that works for me. (50 years of too much sun).

First of all... Had to get over the fear, as my dad died of melanoma... then, after many visits to dermatologists for "freezing", had a suggestion from our new GP, to try (topical) Flourourocil, a salve, to be applied at home, and which works over a two or three week period. (applied daily).

Have been using the same tube of Flouoroucil, for about 7 years, with good results... and avoided dozens of visits and associated nuisance of bills, follow ups, and time lost going for "check ups".

If you spend some time studying the mechanics of skin cancer, it becomes pretty easy to tell if and when there are potential problems. A General Practitioner should be checking for suspicious lesions, and refer you for dermatologist follow up, on your annual check up.

Flourorocil requires a doctor's prescription.

Not for everyone, but just a suggestion that asking your own doctor, may be more cost effective than regular visits to a specialist... particularly if previous experiences have all been negative for cancer.

Again... not a medical opinion...

[F4mandolin]

Yep.....I have been using this stuff (Efudex) for 15 years or more. Putting it on small spots isn't too bad, but putting it on my face causes almost all of my skin to come off....bleeding involved. Just got a new tube a few weeks ago. I tried something about 1.5 years ago that was kind of quicker....Levulan Kerastick?not sure of the spelling on that one. You go in 3 different times about 6 weeks apart. They cover your entire head with a chemical and leave you sitting for anywhere from an hour to 2 hours for it to soak in. Then they turn on a blue like that causes immediate reaction that burns the skin.....the last treatment just plain hurt.The skin falls off within a few days.....looks terrible, but the skin snaps back pretty quickly. It took about a year before the spots started coming back again.

[haha]

I started going to a derm about 5 years ago to have these frozen. For some reason, I have few of them for someone of Northern European heritage. For a few days after I go, I look like I have tangled with a bee hive, but it passes quickly. I like to go, because he also does a skin check for more serious stuff, and he is very pleasant guy.

Ha

[donheff]

I suffered burns and peels throughout my youth and have a lot of subcutaneous damage. People like me should be aware of the "iceberg effect" - there is a lot more damage under the skin than shows up as flaky patches on top. I used Effudex to treat my face about 8 years ago and was surprised at how much crud there is to scrape away. At 3 weeks or so I looked like frozen, raw hamburger pulled out of the freezer.

I sent this picture to my pale Irish kids, nephews, and nieces to warn them of the damage the sun can do. Still worth treating it. A lot of that crap could have progressed to cancers.