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Current and novel treatment options for actinic keratosis

Joseph L Jorizzo1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. jjorizzo@wfubmc.edu

Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery
|January 14, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Topical treatments are gaining interest for managing actinic keratosis (AK), a growing skin condition. These therapies effectively treat subclinical AK and offer a valuable option for healthcare providers.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Actinic keratosis (AK) presents a significant global health challenge, primarily affecting sun-exposed skin.
  • Current management involves ablative and topical treatments, with a growing focus on topical options due to their ability to address subclinical lesions in photodamaged skin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy and safety data of various topical therapies for actinic keratosis.
  • To highlight the role of topical treatments in managing AK, particularly in the context of photodamage.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of key data on topical treatments for AK.
  • Discussion of specific agents including 5-fluorouracil, photodynamic therapy, diclofenac sodium gel, and imiquimod cream.
  • Focus on imiquimod 5% cream, approved for facial and scalp AK.

Main Results:

  • Topical therapies demonstrate efficacy in managing actinic keratosis.
  • Imiquimod 5% cream is highlighted for its use in treating facial and scalp AK.
  • Both monotherapy and adjunctive use of topical agents are effective.

Conclusions:

  • Topical therapies are a promising and effective approach for managing actinic keratosis.
  • These treatments are crucial for addressing subclinical disease and offer a valuable addition to the clinician's toolkit.

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