PRE-CANCEROUS CONDITIONS

Solar keratoses

Solar keratoses (actinic keratoses) are scaly areas of the skin resulting from excessive cumulative sun exposure i.e. sun exposure during a lifetime.

If left alone, they may progress to a skin cancer called Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

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Options of treatment of solar keratoses include:

• Liquid nitrogen

• Aldara cream

• Efudix cream

• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) -  ideal if there are many solar keratoses within an area.  The face, arms and scalp (if devoid of hair) are the most common areas to be involved with multiple solar keratoses and hence the most common areas to require PDT. 

Bowen's disease

Bowens disease is a squamous cell carcinoma in situ (confined to the epidermis) and progresses to an invasive squamous cell carcinoma in 3-5% of cases. Diagnosis is confirmed on biopsy of the involved area of skin.