Actinic keratosis, a disease on the rise
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What is actinic keratosis?
Actinic keratoses are lesions that appear on skin exposed to ultraviolet raysmainly, which they are very common, which may appear 30 or 40% of thepeople, plus those that have been exposed to ultraviolet rays, more in those with fair skin.
Are they frequent?
Actinic keratosis is a very common condition that also has been increasingoften in recent years. This is mainly due to recreational and living habits that we in the Western world, to greater sun exposure. Occur in up to 25% of people in our country, and in countries like Australia where there is more sun exposure and have a type of skin lighter ones, the numbers may be up to 50 or 70% of the population.
What are the causes and how to diagnose?
The fundamental cause of the occurrence of actinic keratoses is exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the rays VA and VB. Another factor that is responsible for the appearance are genetic factors, the type of skin. Clear skin types are more likely to develop actinic keratoses. A third important factor is immunosuppression in people with organ transplants receiving immunosuppressive treatments are more common actinic keratoses. The diagnosis of actinic keratosis is mainly clinical appearance of the lesions. Are scaly lesions on a reddish base, adhering, sometimes forming cutaneous horns. Which they appear mainly on the face, scalp, back of the hands, the neck. In areas that are regularly exposed to radiation ultravioleta.Disponemos two techniques, dermoscopy and focal microscopy we help to increase the sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy, as differentiated from other lesions that may mimic actinic keratoses. In those doubtful cases we require biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
What treatments are and what value is photodynamic therapy?
We have multiple treatments for actinic keratosis. It depends on whether you are single lesions, if multiple injuries, where they are located, the age of the patient and if other factors like immunosuppression to choose one or the other treatment. We cryotherapy, widely used by dermatologists as a treatment for single lesions. We have different treatments we call field, dealing with the whole area where actinic keratosis is and where new actinic keratoses can appear. Here there has been a revolution and great research in recent years with the emergence of multiple products with high efficiency and high safety. And we also have photodynamic therapy and laser treatment of these skin disorders. Photodynamic therapy involves the application of a topical product, a cream on the skin and subsequent irradiation with light specific. This achieves sensitize and to activate the chemical so that selectively destroys cells actinic keratosis, precancerous cells while preserving normal skin. It is highly effective in treating actinic keratoses has proven safe and at the same time achieved very satisfactory cosmetic results procedure.
