Solar Keratosis
Solar keratosis or actinic keratosis is a change in skin condition that becomes rough and scaly due to years of excessive sun exposure.
This condition usually attacks the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, arms, back of hands and feet.
Sun keratosis is usually felt by men aged 40 years and over or by anyone who is often active in the sun for a long time. All conditions do not begin with symptoms or symptoms that appear to be difficult for patients to recognize. Although rare, this disease can cause skin cancer.
Symptoms of sun keratosis
Symptoms of sun keratosis usually appear on skin that is often exposed to sunlight or UV light. Although all conditions of sun keratosis are not accompanied by symptoms, the general clinical signs observed in sun keratosis are as follows:
See your doctor right away if you have advanced symptoms such as:
Diagnosis of sun keratosis
It is not easy to distinguish sun keratosis from skin cancer symptoms. The first step in establishing a diagnosis is checking the patient's skin condition and asking questions about the history of the disease and the types of daily activities. During a physical examination to see the state of the skin, dermatoscopy is used, which is a special magnifying glass equipped with a lamp. For diagnosis, a skin biopsy can be performed.
Consult a doctor if prolonged side effects occur. Generally, side effects can occur for several weeks during use.
In severe cases, an operation called erosion may be recommended by a doctor as a solution to remove damaged cells.
As a first step, the doctor will give the patient an injection of local anesthesia to freeze the area to be treated and scrape the damaged cells on the surface of the skin with a curette. The process will be continued with electrical surgery that aims to kill infected body tissue using electricity. This operation requires a lot of time.
Side effects that can be felt are not much different from cryotherapy, namely in the form of blisters, infections and changes in the structure of the skin in the area to be treated.
This condition usually attacks the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, arms, back of hands and feet.
Sun keratosis is usually felt by men aged 40 years and over or by anyone who is often active in the sun for a long time. All conditions do not begin with symptoms or symptoms that appear to be difficult for patients to recognize. Although rare, this disease can cause skin cancer.
Causes of sun keratosis
The main cause of sun keratosis is excessive sun exposure, or more precisely ultraviolet (UV) light. This condition usually occurs in hot countries like Indonesia and Australia or in countries where people often use tanning equipment.
In general, the skin has the ability to repair minor damage without any treatment. But for someone who is often exposed to sunlight for a long time, such as construction workers or farmers, the ability of the skin to withstand such exposure will decrease and result in sun keratosis. This condition can also occur to anyone who often bask.
Several factors can trigger sun keratosis, even if UV exposure is very low, including:
The main cause of sun keratosis is excessive sun exposure, or more precisely ultraviolet (UV) light. This condition usually occurs in hot countries like Indonesia and Australia or in countries where people often use tanning equipment.
In general, the skin has the ability to repair minor damage without any treatment. But for someone who is often exposed to sunlight for a long time, such as construction workers or farmers, the ability of the skin to withstand such exposure will decrease and result in sun keratosis. This condition can also occur to anyone who often bask.
Several factors can trigger sun keratosis, even if UV exposure is very low, including:
- Have a family with a history of sun keratosis or skin cancer.
- Have a little skin pigment, which is white people.
- People with HIV / AIDS, leukemia or who have a weak immune system.
- Take drugs that inhibit the immune system, for example in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma.
- In the course of anticancer chemotherapy.
- I just started an organ transplant because other treatments did not work optimally.
Symptoms of sun keratosis
Symptoms of sun keratosis usually appear on skin that is often exposed to sunlight or UV light. Although all conditions of sun keratosis are not accompanied by symptoms, the general clinical signs observed in sun keratosis are as follows:
- Rough and hardened skin.
- There are scales that appear on the surface of the skin.
- The skin changes color to reddish or brown.
- The area of abnormality is 2.5 cm or less.
- Feel itchy or hot around the skin with abnormalities.
See your doctor right away if you have advanced symptoms such as:
- Unusual growth on the surface of the skin.
- Pieces or scales that continue to grow and penetrate the surface of the skin.
- Have experienced sun keratosis and seen a new place.
Diagnosis of sun keratosis
It is not easy to distinguish sun keratosis from skin cancer symptoms. The first step in establishing a diagnosis is checking the patient's skin condition and asking questions about the history of the disease and the types of daily activities. During a physical examination to see the state of the skin, dermatoscopy is used, which is a special magnifying glass equipped with a lamp. For diagnosis, a skin biopsy can be performed.
Solar Treatment of Keratosis
In general, diesel keratosis can heal itself without medication, but can be offensive again. Because this condition is sometimes difficult to distinguish from symptoms of skin cancer, treatment is highly recommended.
There are three ways to treat sun keratosis, namely the use of drugs, therapy and surgery. This is determined by the amount of sun keratosis experienced, its location, thickness, and general health of the patient.
In general, diesel keratosis can heal itself without medication, but can be offensive again. Because this condition is sometimes difficult to distinguish from symptoms of skin cancer, treatment is highly recommended.
There are three ways to treat sun keratosis, namely the use of drugs, therapy and surgery. This is determined by the amount of sun keratosis experienced, its location, thickness, and general health of the patient.
drug
Sun keratosis is usually treated with topical (topical) drugs, creams or gels. Some of them include:
Sun keratosis is usually treated with topical (topical) drugs, creams or gels. Some of them include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory gel (NSAID) such as diclofenac. This drug is usually applied for 3 months, but with the risk of side effects such as itching or rashes.
- Fluorouracil cream is usually used to kill abnormal cells and give birth to new skin. This cream can be used for 3-4 weeks, but with the risk of side effects such as temporary inflammation, swelling or blisters.
- A topical salicylic acid drug that can be used with fluorouracil cream if necessary.
- Imiquimod cream which can be used as an alternative. This drug can be applied as needed, starting three times a day for a month or only twice a week, with a gap of 2 to 4 weeks. These drugs can cause side effects such as inflammation, irritation or rashes on wet skin.
- Oxygenol Mebutate Gel is the drug of choice for short-term treatment. Frequency of use is generally recommended for 3 days for scalp and face care and 2 days for other members.
Consult a doctor if prolonged side effects occur. Generally, side effects can occur for several weeks during use.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
This therapy combines the use of topical medications and light therapy to kill abnormal cells in the skin. During this therapy, the doctor will apply the cream methyl-5-aminolevulinate to the affected skin. Special light is emitted so that abnormal cells that trigger keratosis of the sun die. Because the cream is very sensitive to light, this therapy can also be done in direct sunlight.
Consult your doctor before taking this treatment because it can cause side effects such as rashes, swelling and a burning sensation during treatment.
This therapy combines the use of topical medications and light therapy to kill abnormal cells in the skin. During this therapy, the doctor will apply the cream methyl-5-aminolevulinate to the affected skin. Special light is emitted so that abnormal cells that trigger keratosis of the sun die. Because the cream is very sensitive to light, this therapy can also be done in direct sunlight.
Consult your doctor before taking this treatment because it can cause side effects such as rashes, swelling and a burning sensation during treatment.
cryotherapy
This therapy involves freezing the infected part with liquid nitrogen and removing it when it is completely frozen. The cryotherapy process usually takes a short time.
Possible side effects in the area to be treated are: swollen skin, changes in skin texture, dark skin color, scars or infection.
This therapy involves freezing the infected part with liquid nitrogen and removing it when it is completely frozen. The cryotherapy process usually takes a short time.
Possible side effects in the area to be treated are: swollen skin, changes in skin texture, dark skin color, scars or infection.
Operation action
In severe cases, an operation called erosion may be recommended by a doctor as a solution to remove damaged cells.
As a first step, the doctor will give the patient an injection of local anesthesia to freeze the area to be treated and scrape the damaged cells on the surface of the skin with a curette. The process will be continued with electrical surgery that aims to kill infected body tissue using electricity. This operation requires a lot of time.
Side effects that can be felt are not much different from cryotherapy, namely in the form of blisters, infections and changes in the structure of the skin in the area to be treated.
Complications of sun keratosis
In general, sun keratosis rarely causes other complications, especially if the treatment has been done properly. However, for people who suffer from recurrent sun keratosis, which shows rapid symptoms, bleeding, pain or scaly skin for a long time, it is advisable to seek medical attention immediately because it is feared to be a serious complication of squamous cell cancer (SCC).
Squamous cell cancer is a skin cancer that attacks the inner and middle surface of the skin. This cancer is usually not life-threatening, but if left untreated it can spread to other body parts and trigger other serious complications.
In general, sun keratosis rarely causes other complications, especially if the treatment has been done properly. However, for people who suffer from recurrent sun keratosis, which shows rapid symptoms, bleeding, pain or scaly skin for a long time, it is advisable to seek medical attention immediately because it is feared to be a serious complication of squamous cell cancer (SCC).
Squamous cell cancer is a skin cancer that attacks the inner and middle surface of the skin. This cancer is usually not life-threatening, but if left untreated it can spread to other body parts and trigger other serious complications.
Prevention of sun keratosis
For those of you who travel a lot in the sun, it is highly recommended to take the following preventative steps:
For those of you who travel a lot in the sun, it is highly recommended to take the following preventative steps:
- Use a waterproof sunscreen that contains an SPF 30 uniform throughout the body. Don't forget to apply lip balm with sunscreen. Repeat every 2 hours, especially if you sweat or swim.
- Try not to move in full sun between 11am and 3pm because the ultraviolet rays emitted at this time are very high.
- Always protect your skin by wearing long sleeve clothes, pants, socks, covered shoes, jackets and hats. Try using ingredients that can protect your skin from sun exposure.
- It is strongly recommended not to use tanning beds because they can emit UV rays and radiation that can damage the skin.
- Perform routine skin checks to be treated immediately when symptoms of sun keratosis are detected.
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