Hyperkeratinization on skin is the main cause of keratosis. Keratin makes up the hair and nails of humans. When it is produced out of proportion, some skin problems like keratosis could occur. There are many types of keratoses, each varying in nature and causes. Two such types are Seborrheic Keratosis and Actinic Keratosis which will be discussed here.
Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis is just like actinic keratosis, the main difference is its greasiness. It is a noncancerous benign skin growth, so it poses no other potential dangers. This kind of keratosis originates from keratinocytes and also involves the uppermost layers of the epidermis. They also resemble warts because of its pasted on appearance and sometimes associated with old age, thus it is also referred to as the barnacles of old age. The true origin of this is still a mystery.
Seborrheic Keratosis Treatments
Treatments for seborrheic keratosis consist of cryosurgery and electrocautery. In bigger cases, electrodessication (drying the SK up using electricity) and curettage could be employed. A scalpel is used in place of a curette in a method called surgical excision.
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratosis is also known as solar or senile keratosis. This skin condition often takes place to elder people, and to people who get too much sun exposure, thus the names senile or solar keratosis. Actually, it can be a precancerous warning and can result in squamous cell carcinoma. Actinic keratosis are wart like growths which is rough, scaly but non viral. One must be alarmed if he or she has this, for it can progress into a skin cancer later.
Actinic Keratosis Treatments
The good news is that there is a wide range of treatments available for actinic keratosis. One can select for non surgical or surgical treatments. Surgical treatments include cryotherapy (use of liquid nitrogen in freezing off), electrocautery (uses electricity in burning off) and laser (Er-YAG lasers). These treatments are more suitable for worse situations however. If you fear surgeries, there are creams which can help remove actinic keratosis.
Aldara and Beselna are known imiquimod creams. It’s under the immune response modifier kind of drugs. A doctor’s recommendation is needed to acquire the drug. The side effects of using this cream are pains and discomforts. But after all the things you need to tolerate, you’ll be satisfied with the result.
5-flourouracil is an anti cancer drug, and Efudex is a trade name for it. The drug is a topical cream also employed for chemotherapy. It is also a topical cream, applied on the skin by the patient. Swelling, pain and itch can occur on the treated area. In other cases, skin staining and scarring also happens. The good thing is that it only occurs during the treatment. Before using the drug, your doctor must know if you are taking any other medicine. Efudex can have adverse effects on a pregnant or lactating women, so it must be avoided. You should regulate sun exposure plus the use of sunscreens when using Efudex.
A medical recommendation is vital before you go through any sort of treatment.
If you already have these skin diseases cured, then take care of it. It could occur again if you become careless about protecting your skin.
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