Does all cases of actinic keratosis develop to SCC?… by Wise_Gi
Should they all be removed by surgery?
Best Answer:
Depending on the dermatologist that you talk to, generally speaking about one in (six or ) eight actinic keratosis will eventually progress to become a SCC. This process can often be reversed by regular use of a drug like Solaraze.
http://www.bradpharm.com/products/Doak/prescription/Solaraze.htm
Apply twice daily and over time most AKs will fade away. Those that do not will probably eventually need freezing or removing.
Another drug option for actinic keratosis is Aldara. The good thing about Aldara is that it can also be used to treat early SCCs. Aldara is usually applied every other day. Inflammation occurs at the site of the AK or SCC. This continues for 2-4-6 weeks (depending on size of lesion) and then when no more inflammation occurs you quit treating the spot and the AK or SCC will slough off and the area will begin healing. If needed the treatment can be done a second time after a month of rest. It takes a little practice to figure out how to best use Aldara but this certainly beats having to have numerous skin lesions excised surgically.
http://www.aldara.com/
Aldara is currently FDA approved for treating AKs and BCC and will soon be approved for treating superficial SCCs. These new immune modifying drugs are the new direction in dermatology for treating skin cancers and other previously difficult to treat skin issues.
You should also realize that there is much debate in the dermatology community about using these drugs to treat AKs, BCC, and SCC because much of the income of dermatologists has been derived from removing these lesions surgically. Some older Drs refuse to do anything besides cut them out because using drug therapy can really cut into their income.
Make sure your dermatologist is treating you as a person and not an income stream in whether or not he decides whether a skin lesion needs excising or can be treated with drug therapy.
btw - Lesions treated with Aldara can look quite inflamed and not good at all after 4-6 weeks of treatment but if you wait another month or six weeks post treatment you will have no scar and won't even be able to tell where the lesion previously was located.
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