Preventing Sunspots

Between the ages of 20 and 50, I was outdoors sunning every minute I could spare. At age 70, sunspots broke out on the top and sides of my head. They are sores of some magnitude. A dermatologist told me that these spots have to be shaved off, but that they will return within six months. Please express your opinion on curing this horrible type of sores.

Your spots are probably what dermatologists call actinic keratoses or AKs. Dr. William Beeson replies:

“Actinic keratoses are thickened, scaly, raised areas on the skin which result from repeated injury to the skin by ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. They are found most commonly on sun-exposed areas such as the face, lips, ears, scalp, neck, back of hands, and forearms.

“Many feel that actinic keratoses are precancerous lesions. Approximately two to five percent of actinic keratoses develop into skin cancer, so thickened, ulcerated lesions should be evaluated by a physician.

“In general, treatments for actinic keratoses remove superficial layers of damaged skin, allowing the deeper and undamaged layers to restore the skin to normal. Multiple treatments are sometimes required. Options may include freezing (cryotherapy), scraping (curettage), chemical peeling, laser treatment, and dermabrasion. Doctors may also prescribe creams or ointments containing chemotherapy medications such as fluorouracil and imiquimod.

“Sun safety is necessary to help prevent actinic keratoses from recurring or developing in the first place. To protect the skin:

* Limit time in the sun. Avoid being out between10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.

* Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with a 15+ SPF 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapply every 2-3 hours.

* Wear a broad-brimmed hat and protective clothing.

* Avoid tanning beds.

* Check skin regularly and report changes to your doctor.”

Again, the photo stickers mentioned above can help track skin lesions with ease and accuracy.

Medical Mailbox supplements the advice of your healthcare provider, whom you should consult for personal medical problems.