Each year there are other new cases of cancer of the skin than breast, prostate, lung and
colon cancers combined. One out of 5 Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime.
90% of skin cancers are caused by excessive exposure to the sun, yet fewer than 33
percent of adults, adolescents, and kids routinely use sun-protection.
Cancer prevention and early detection techniques could eliminate as much as 100,000
cancer cases and 60,000 US cancer deaths every year. Technology within the
evaluation and management of sun damaged skin might have a positive impact on
changing these statistics.
The same sunny weather that draws a lot of tourists and new residents to the
sun-belt also increases the risk of skin cancer. The results of chronic sun exposure
result in superficial sun spots that are visible as well as invisible changes that occur
underneath the skin’s surface. Ultraviolet photography and photodynamic therapy (PDT)
are two recent developments that ought to help in early detection and treatment
of both types of pre-cancerous lesions on the skin.
Early Detection with UV Photography
Ultraviolet (UV) photography provides a very helpful screening tool to help the skilled
physician detect sun damaged skin that could not be visible upon a routine
examination.
Visual inspection can only detect changes about the surface of the skin, but damage due to
exposure to the sun occurs beneath the outer layer of skin,
The UV camera briefly shines ultraviolet light on the face. UV light has the capacity to
penetrate 1.5-2.0 millimeters underneath the visible dead layer of skin and concentrate on the
actual living portion where sun damage originates. The advantage to the doctor and
the patient is this fact technology allows for much earlier detection of skin problems
before they develop into pre-cancers that are visible on the skins surface. After
finishing your skin therapy plan, a doctor should take another UV photo to verify the
treatment efficacy. UV photography also helps evaluate other skin conditions
including acne, oil balance, hydration, inflammation, growths, fungi, pH, and thin
skin because of reduced collagen which makes it a perfect tool to evaluate all problem
skin.
After the harm to the deeper layers of skin, superficial signs and symptoms of sun damage may
eventually show up on the surface. The most typical surface lesion is called
actinic keratoses (AK). AKs usually appear as rough or scaly patches. They may also
flake, crust, and may temporarily disappear and then return.
An AK is probably to appear about the face, ears, scalp, neck, backs from the hands and
forearms, shoulders, and lips – the various components of the body usually exposed to
sunshine. The scaly patch might be light or dark, tan, pink, red, or a combination of
these…or even the same color as your skin.
Approximately 10-20% of untreated AKs will build up into squamous cell
cancers. If treated early, almost all AKs can be eliminated without becoming skin
cancers. For those who have AKs, this implies that you have sustained sun damage and also have
high risk for developing all kinds of skin cancer – not only squamous cell
carcinoma.
The greater keratoses an individual has, the higher the opportunity that certain or even more risk turning
into cancer of the skin. People could also have up to 10 times as numerous subclinical (invisible)
lesions as visible, surface lesions. These invisible lesions were undetectable until
the development of the UV camera.
Treatment options
The most typical treatments for AKs have traditionally involved topical
ointment 5-FU (Effudex), laser resurfacing, or skins. To prevent the
prolonged recovery period and possible scarring related to they,
photodynamic therapy has been developed.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be the management of option for the invisible deeper sun
damage as well as the visible pre-cancerous AK lesions. PDT involves a two step
process that has been proven effective in clinical testing. Laser hair removal cleared
100% of the AKs in 2/3 of the sufferers after one treatment.
The first step is the application of a topical solution called Levulan. Abnormal cells
have a much greater affinity for that solution and absorb it while the healthy cells do
not. The solution remains on to have an incubation period lasting anywhere from 15
minutes to 18 hours.
The second step of PDT is to apply a concentrated source of light to activate the
chemical reaction which destroys the abnormal cells. Because the solution is absorbed
only within the damaged cells, the healthy cells are not affected. This process may cause
a gentle burning sensation throughout the treatment. Usually, this improves immediately
after treatment and ends within Twenty four hours.
Following the treatment, most patients experience mild swelling, redness, along with a
peeling of the AK lesions and also the surrounding tissue. Patients selecting a more
aggressive treatment are experiencing more peeling and/or crusting from the damaged
skin that resolves within in one or fourteen days. A doctor can easily control the
harshness of these reactions by limiting the incubation period and the quantity of
contact with the light source.
Patients reluctant to get a prolonged recovery time following the procedure
may select a more mild treatment and return to work after a few days. The
tradeoff is they will need more treatments to offer the same clinical
results.
Along with eliminating AKs and the subsurface skin damage, PDT has also been
effective in improving the appearance of the skin by greatly reducing moderate to
severe acne (including cystic acne), reducing color splotches, lessening the fine
lines, and decreasing pore size.
Anyone who currently has, has had, or really wants to prevent AKs or pre-cancerous skin
lesions should be evaluated and treated using UV photography and photodynamic
therapy (PDT).” Once a person has been successfully treated by using this approach, it
is mandatory they return for a yearly follow up to avoid future problems.