Dr. John D. Stover DDS, MD, PhD
TRIPLE BOARD CERTIFIED:
Diplomate, American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Diplomate, National Board of Dental Anesthesiology
Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii
Most comprehensive cosmetic surgical procedures in Hawaii
SKIN TREATMENTS
Actinic Keratosis
If you have rough, dry lesions, have them examined and removed at Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii.
What is Actinic Keratosis?
Actinic keratosis is a precancerous growth on the skin that is caused by exposure to the sun. It occurs most frequently in young people with fair skin or in the elderly of all skin tones if their skin has suffered sun damage.
If you have a rough and dry skin lesion in a sun-exposed area, it could be actinic keratosis. The lesion might be the same color as your skin, or it might be red, pink, or gray. Over time, these lesions usually develop a wart-like appearance and texture. Sometimes, they become raised like a horn.
At Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii, we can diagnose actinic keratosis by examining your lesions in our offices. A biopsy may be necessary, however, to make sure that skin cancer is not present. Then, we can remove the unsightly lesions by using a variety of methods.
Because actinic keratoses are precancerous changes that turn into skin cancer in 10-20% of cases, it is important to have them examined as soon as you notice them.
How Can I Prevent Actinic Keratosis?
- Protect your skin when you are outside by wearing a high quality sun block and reapplying it frequently. Make sure the sun block you use blocks both UVB and UBA rays and contains more than 5% Zinc.
- Avoid the sun in the middle of the day whenever possible.
- Cover your head and more of your body when out in the sun.
- Use antioxidant-rich skin care products.
What Can I Expect from Actinic Keratosis Removal?
Our specialists will recommend the best form of actinic keratosis removal for your particular case. Below are the various methods we use:
- Cryotherapy – Also called cryosurgery (although no incisions are involved). This is the most frequently used treatment for actinic keratoses. It involves applying liquid nitrogen to the lesion, which freezes and kills the offending cells.
- Cauterization – In this simple and painless procedure, the lesion is removed by burning the cells. A local anesthetic is used, and the surrounding skin is unaffected.
- Active FX and Deep FX Laser Treatments – These lasers are now being used more frequently to effectively remove actinic keratoses. Read more about these treatments.
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) – This technique, which is best for shallow lesions, uses a medication that causes the skin of the lesion to peel off. A chemical peel may also be recommended prior to PDT to make the treatment more effective.
- Surgery – While surgery is rarely necessary to remove an actinic keratosis, it is sometimes preferable, especially if the lesion is deep.
- Anticancer Creams – If you have many lesions, these creams – 5-fluorouracil (Effudex) and imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara) – are helpful to prevent the lesions from becoming cancerous. These creams commonly cause irritation and significant redness for a period of weeks.
Don't live with actinic keratosis lesions – have them removed not just for your appearance, but for your health.
Dr. John D. Stover is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with offices in Kona, Hilo, and Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. He is a fellow of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Ms Marné CarMichael Walsh, M.S., PA-C, a certified physician assistant, supports Dr. Stover in diagnosing and treating a variety of skin conditions. She is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and has attained special recognition in Surgery. Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii offer the most extensive variety of non-invasive cosmetic treatments in the state.
