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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Actinic Keratosis

Treatment & Monitoring

What are the treatments for the condition?

Treatments for actinic keratosis include:

chemical peeling, which uses trichloroacetic acid or phenol to cause the top layer of skin to slough off

cryosurgery, which uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal cells

curettage and desiccation, which involves scraping of the lesion followed by electrocautery to control bleeding

dermabrasion, which involves sanding off the top layers of the lesion

laser surgery, which removes the lesions

shave removal with a scalpel, followed by electrocautery to stop bleeding

topical medicines, such as 5-fluorouracil or masoprocol, which remove the lesions

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Medicines may cause loss of pigmentation in the treated skin area or allergic reactions. Surgical procedures can cause bleeding, infection, or allergic reaction to anesthesia.

What happens after treatment for the condition?

After treatment, the sites usually heal into smooth skin and are unnoticeable. The person will still have a tendency to develop precancerous lesions. The person should follow skin cancer prevention guidelines for the rest of his or her life.

How is the condition monitored?

A person with actinic keratosis is much more likely to have true skin cancer than most people. He or she should have regular skin checks with the healthcare provider. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the provider.

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