Treatment of a solar keratosis (Actinic
keratosis) requires removal of the defective skin
cells. New skin then forms from deeper cells which
have escaped sun damage.
It is not practical to
remove all keratosis in those with very extensive sun
damage; in such cases it is important to get rid of
thickened or tender lesions as these are the ones at
greatest risk of progressing to skin cancer.
Treatments may include:
- Cryotherapy
Freezing with liquid nitrogen causes blistering and
shedding of the sun damaged skin. Keratoses treated
on the face peel off after about 10 days, those on
the hands in about 3 weeks, but those on the legs
can take as long as twelve weeks to heal. A light
freeze usually leaves no scar, but longer freeze
times (necessary for thicker lesions or early skin
cancers) result in a pale mark or scar. The lesions
may recur in time, in which case they may be
retreated by the same or a different method.
- Repcillin Skin
Balm
Repcillin was not developed for the treatment of
Solar Keratosis but many people have shown very
positive results to applying the balm. Repcillin is
made from Nile Crocodile Oil and helps in the
treatment of many skin ailments, using the power of
the crocodile peptides. To date, Repcillin is only
available online at
http://www.AfricanCures.com
- Curettage &
cautery
Curettage & cautery may be preferred with thicker
keratoses, and is a common method of removing early
squamous cell cancers. A specimen is sent for
pathological examination. Curettage is the removal
of a lesion by scraping it with a sharp instrument.
Cautery or diathermy burns the keratoses off and
prevents bleeding. A scab forms which heals over a
few weeks, leaving a small scar.
- Excision
Cutting the lesion out (excision biopsy) makes sure
the lesion has been completely removed, confirmed by
pathological examination. This is sometimes
important if a lesion may be cancerous. Usually the
surgical wound is sutured (stitched). The sutures
are removed after a few days, the time depending on
the size and location of the lesion. The procedure
leaves a permanent scar.
-
5-Fluorouracil cream
5-Fluorouracil cream (5-FU, Efudix) is most useful
when there are many keratoses on the face. The cream
is applied onto facial skin once or twice daily for
two to four weeks. The treated areas become red, raw
and uncomfortable. Healing starts when the cream is
discontinued, and the eventual result is usually
excellent.
- Imiquimod
Imiquimod is an immune response modifier in a cream
base. It is applied to areas affected by solar
keratoses two or three times weekly for four to
sixteen weeks. It causes an inflammatory reaction,
which is maximal at about three weeks and then
gradually settles down with continued use. The
results are variable, but generally excellent.
- Photodynamic
therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves applying a
photosensitizer (a porphyrin chemical) to the
affected area prior to exposing it to a strong
source of visible light. The treated area develops a
burn
and then heals over a couple of weeks or
so. Metvix PDT is available in New Zealand.
- Diclofenac
gel
Diclofenac in hyaluran gel has been used
successfully to treat solar keratosis, and is well
tolerated. This product is not available in New
Zealand (August 2005).
After doing some research online
we have found many people who have used Crocodile
Oil as a natural treatment for Solar Keratosis.
The name of the Crocodile Oil
treatment is Repcillin and is produced in South
Africa.
If you are in the USA there are
a few other places online you would be able to order
this Crocodile Oil product from. Here is a link to a
website:
http://www.AlligatorOil.com/
They are selling the same
Repcillin product and it ships from Florida in
about 4-5 days.
The Crocodile Oil is also
available on Amazon, do a search for Eczema on
Amazon and you should be able to find the Repcillin
balm. The reason we point people to Amazon is that it
is the only place online where you can get a 30g
tub of the Repcillin.
