There are a number of possible treatments, including:
•Skin cream – there are a number of creams that can be applied regularly to the actinic keratosis, resulting in the top layer of skin becoming inflamed and the cells being ‘killed off’, together with the keratosis. Other creams stimulate the body’s immune system to fight off the growths.
•Cryotherapy – the actinic keratosis can be frozen with a cold spray. This then blisters and falls off, leaving normal skin.
•Curettage – under local anaesthetic, the growth can be ‘scraped away’, with minimal scarring
•Chemical peel – peels are usually used in the cosmetic setting, where the skin has a dilute acid applied to it. This takes away the very top layer of skin, leaving youthful skin behind. As actinic keratosis lies on the top layer of skin, a peel will remove them as part of the process. This is quite useful for large areas of sun-damaged skin.
•Laser – this can again be used to remove the top layer of skin, taking the actinic keratosis with it. Laser can, however, sometimes also remove the skin pigment, leaving a permanently pale area.
•Surgery – if a solar keratosis is resistant to other forms of treatment, then surgery may be needed to finally remove it. This can often be performed under local anaesthetic.