Recent Discovery: Treating Actinic Keratosis Can Prevent Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Humankind's love affair with the sun wasn't duly noted until after World War II

. The increasing income and extra time created a search for new things to do, one of which meant spending more time relaxing by the pool, however, too much of a good thing can eventually take its toll on your health.

A recent dermatological study that appeared in the March issue of the Archives of Dermatology states that in 2006 nonmelanoma skin cancers have affected 50% more people than in 1992. For the most part, this study comprehends keratinocyte carcinomas such as basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas. The study was based on data from 2 Medicare databases and national surveys. The results showed that the majority of people being treated for this conditions were older adults, however, there were several cases of younger adults and even teenagers that had been treated for these types of carcinomas.

It was then discovered that the main cause of these cancers was the excess exposure to UV radiation, be it from direct sunlight or tanning beds. In fact, exposure to UV radiation can lead to a slew of different problems such as wrinkles, age spots, and even precancerous lesions such as actinic keratosis. If at any moment you notice you've developed actinic keratosis then treat it immediately. This type of skin condition can lead to squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated.

To get a better understanding we'll need to take a close look at actinic keratosis treatment and actinic keratosis prevention and see how they can be used as a way of avoiding the development of skin cancer.

First of all, prevention is simple, don't go out into the sun. This may not seem reasonable to most people, which is why it's best to use a good sunscreen every day. Another great way to protect your skin is by wearing long sleeved shirts and wide brimmed hats that can actually help cover a larger area of skin.

Secondly, if you feel that you may have developed actinic keratosis, you should consult your doctor. In case you're uncertain, actinic keratosis presents itself as dry, scaly patches about 1 inch in diameter, however, the problem is that most people suspect that they just have dry skin and do not seek professional help.

Actinic keratosis is a recurring problem. If you avoid solar exposure these patches will fade, however, once you've gone out into the sun again they will quickly reappear.

Skin biopsies are the only way you can truly determine how advanced your actinic keratosis is. Treatment for keratosis lesions requires the use of microdermabrasion treatments, topical chemotherapy drugs, and reduced exposure to sunlight.

You can also compliment any treatment with the use of natural skin care products to help soothe the affected area. Biological skin creams made with snail serum will genuinely help boost the rate at which your skin heals. When these natural skin care products are used in conjunction with dermatological treatment, they can help restore the health of your skin.

Treating actinic keratosis and preventing it from developing into skin cancer is quite simple, in fact, early prevention can help you avoid further complications and elevated costs of treatment.

by: Grant Ferns

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