Susan Goodlerner, M.D. / article #4

What are the options for treating pre-cancerous growths that come from the sun?

Until recently these growths (Actinic Keratoses) have been treated by freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery) or with topical chemotherapy, both of which can cause side effects. Cryosurgery can cause hypopigmentation, or white spots; topical chemotherapy can cause the skin to become red, itchy and blistery for about a month.

A new, more elegant treatment is Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), which is covered by Medicare and most PPO health plans. The area is first treated with a topical clear gel. This medicine can be activated after one to two hours by an appropriate light source-pulsed dye laser; intense pulsed light (IPL); or the recently FDA-approved blue light. The entire face can be treated quickly-in 10-15 minutes. Post-treatment, most patients have a sunburn-like reaction with some redness and peeling for two or three days. The end result is smoother, healthier skin.

Susan Goodlerner, M.D. Diplomate,
American Board of Dermatology Member,
South Bay Independent Physicians Medical Group, Inc.
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