At Harris Dermatology of Fort Myers and Naples, FL, men and women are welcome to speak to Drs. Brian, Ross, and Keith Harris about their skin needs. When patients are diagnosed with pre-cancerous lesions known as actinic keratosis, they often have a lot of questions. They also want to find out if there is a way to remove or treat these lesions, especially if they are on a highly visible area of the face or body. Our team provides in-office procedures that can remove these troublesome lesions and improve our patients’ confidence!
Treatment options for actinic keratosis
- Cryotherapy – by freezing actinic keratosis, many of these lesions can be easily removed. Using a specialized freezing device, the doctor will treat the skin in the office. Over the course of several days and weeks, the actinic keratosis will blister and peel off of the skin. This is the most common and recommended method of removal for most of our patients.
- Chemical peels – a medical chemical peel can be used to treat actinic keratosis while also improving the skin’s overall texture, tone, and appearance. Chemical peels are performed right in our office and remove dead skin cells to produce more youthful, healthier skin from underneath. These peels are medical-grade peels and cannot be obtained at the local drugstore or through salons.
- Curettage – a curette is a special instrument that can remove the actinic keratosis manually prior to treating with electrosurgery to cauterize the damaged tissue. This treatment removes the lesion and allows healthier skin to appear over time as the area heals.
- Photodynamic therapy – for gradual removal of actinic keratosis, some patients can utilize photodynamic therapy, or “PDT.” A special solution is administered onto the skin to make it more sensitive to light, and then a special blue or laser light device is used on the skin. This light activates the ingredients in the light-sensitive solution and destroys the actinic keratosis while improving the skin’s overall texture and tone.
Request a visit at Harris Dermatology today!
We have two convenient locations in the areas of Fort Myers and Naples, FL, and welcome new patients into our state-of-the-art facility for dermatological care.