MDNews - San Antonio

American Cancer Society. Patients at high risk for developing precancerous skin include individuals with fair complexions;, blue, green or grey eyes; and blonde or red hair. "Currently, one of the most important advances of dermatol- More Than Skin Deep S Dermatology — AS THE BODY'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, HEALTHY SKIN IS A VITAL COMPONENT TO ENSURING ONE'S OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. DERMATOLOGISTS WORK TIRELESSLY TO PROMOTE GOOD SKIN CARE AND PROTECTION HABITS. KIN CANCER IS still the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 2 million non- melanoma cases reported annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Some of these newer precancerous therapies include more advanced topicals, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemical peeling. Blanketing Actinic Keratoses Three key topical creams that are effective in treating large ogy is in the field of prevention," says Terrell R. Wallace, Jr., PA-C, USAF-RET, of Houston Lake Dermatology and Surgery Center in Warner Robins, GA. "We've seen the development and production of several treatment options targeting precancerous cellular change that could potentially turn into skin cancer or skin carcinomas further down the road. In fact, these types of precancerous cells, or actinic keratosis, have up to a 60% chance of turning into a squamous cell carcinoma. In the past, we'd use cryosurgery, or the utilization of liquid nitrogen, to freeze and treat actinic keratosis. The downfall of cryosurgery was that we were limited in the surface area we were able to cover. Improvements in precancerous treatment options have provided dermatologists with more blanket-type treatments that cover large, affected surface areas." areas of actinic keratoses include: + 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) — The most widely used topical treatment for actinic keratoses comes in an ointment or liquid in con- centrations ranging from 0.5% to 5%. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 5-FU is rubbed onto lesions up to twice a day for two to four weeks and produces a cure rate of up to 93%. It also can be used for subclinical lesions. + Imiquimod 5% cream — Rubbed on lesions twice a week for four to 16 weeks, Imiquimod stimulates the immune system's production of interferon, which destroys cancerous and precancerous cells. Imiquimod is FDA approved. + Used in combination with hyaluronic acid, Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug chemical found naturally in the body. Presented in a gel consistency, Diclofenac is appropriate for patients who are sensitive to other topical treatments and is applied twice a day for two to three months. The hyaluronic acid delays the uptake of Diclofenac, which leads to higher concentrations in the skin. "These topicals act like military bombs, if you will," explains

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