Actinic Keratosis : 2017

Thursday 14 September 2017

Actinic Keratosis Natural Treatment

Actinic keratosis natural treatment options

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common skin condition caused by severe sunburns and sun exposure over many years. It can also be caused by elongated exposure to artificial sources of UV light, such as tanning machines. That's why we've created a list of actinic keratosis natural treatment options.

If left untreated, this skin condition can lead to skin cancer. People who are likely to suffer from this skin condition are those with fair skins, and the lesions can appear anywhere on the face and body, including bald scalps. The lesions are usually red, scaly patches and they look like sandpaper.

Fortunately, you can use actinic keratosis natural treatment to manage the lesions before they advance.
List of actinic keratosis natural treatment

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

You can use organic and raw apple cider both internally and externally to control AK. The acidic nature of this natural remedy helps to speed up the healing process.

For external application, use a cotton ball to apply it to the affected area 2 to 4 times every day. If this causes irritation, add water to the apple cider vinegar before you use it.

For internal use, add 1 to 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink it at least twice a day.

2. Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

The use of organic coconut oil in the treatment of actinic keratosis is somewhat a diligent task, but it yields results in the long run. You need to apply the oil regularly on the spots. On the onset, the spots will turn red with a subtle burning feeling.

You should expect to start noticing a change within a month of using the oil. Try to apply organic virgin oil on the lesions once a day until they disappear.

3. Green Tea

Made from the leaves of a plant identified as Camellia sinensis, green tea is a celebrated type of tea that has been approved for various benefits. You can either apply it to the spot or drink it normally. Green tea has antimicrobial and astringent properties that are important in treating a variety of skin disorders.

Soak a bag of green tea in warm water and place it directly on the affected area. You can also chew the Camellia sinensis leaves or get green tea capsules, which you can buy at a local health food store.

If you drink green tea, don't take more than five cups a day as it can lead to irritability, diarrhea, and headaches.

4. Milk Thistle

This is another great actinic keratosis natural treatment that helps to prevent the advancement of the condition into skin cancer. Milk thistle is best used before the lesions start to appear. Ideally, if you leave in tropical areas, using it can help to prevent the spots from appearing. It works by guarding the skin against the harmful ultraviolet rays

Milk thistle is available in liquid extract and powder. You might want to view it as a preventive treatment.

5. Tea Tree Oil

Also known as melaleuca oil, tea tree oil can be used as a preventive and curative treatment of actinic keratosis. It has antimicrobial properties, and it's not recommended for internal use. Also, do not use it per se. Try diluting the oil with virgin coconut oil before applying to the affected area.

Like other treatments, ensure to use it daily until the spots start fading away.

6. Castor Oil

This oil is made by extracting the seeds of the castor plant. You need to apply the oil on the affected area to relieve the crusting, inflammation, and burning sensation caused by AK. It's also effective in reducing the spots caused by extended sun exposure.

However, keep in mind that you might need to use it for a longer period to see some progress in treatment.

7. Eggplant

You can also use eggplant to treat actinic keratosis. The best way to do this is to mix the eggplant with apple cider vinegar.

Simply mince eggplant in a jar and add apple cider vinegar to it. Place the jar in the refrigerator for about three days until the vinegar starts darkening. At this point, it's ready for use. Apply the mixture to the affected spots using a cotton swab at least three times a day.

You will start noticing results after a few weeks of using the combination.

Preventative measures of actinic keratosis

Taking preventive measures is the best approach to avoiding actinic keratosis. Limit extended exposure to the sun by using protective products or staying in shaded areas. Also, avoid tanning beds and machines.

However, should you get the condition, one of these actinic keratosis natural treatment options can be ideal for healing the lesions.

Resource link:

https://healthery.com/actinic-keratosis-natural-treatment/

Monday 17 July 2017

Actinic Keratosis Treatment Options

The treatment of actinic keratosis depends on the specific case and severity of the symptoms. Possible options for treatment include topical creams and gels, cryotherapy, curettage and excision. Each of these is covered in more detail below.

It is not always necessary to treat or remove the patches characteristic of actinic keratosis. If they are not causing troublesome symptoms for the patients, the best course of action may be to implement a watchful waiting technique to assess for further changes. In this case, patients should be advised to seek further medical advice if they notice any changes in the affected area, such as rapid grow of patches, bleeding, pain or the formation of an ulcer.

Topical Treatments

Topical creams and gels may be used to treat actinic keratosis as they remove the abnormal skin patches by causing necrosis of the cells. They can easily be applied to the affected areas of the skin, which should be done daily for several weeks.

The exact dosage and application depend on the formulation being used. There are several products available that may be used including:

Creams: 5-fluorouracil cream or imiquimod cream
Gels: diclofenac gel or ingenol mebutate gel

It is important to wash hands well both before and after the application of cream of gel. Side effects such as weeping or blistering of the skin may occur due to the effect of the cream or gel on the normal skin cells in the area.

Removal Techniques

In many cases, removal of the actinic keratosis is suggested. This is most commonly due to concerns that it may develop into squamous cell carcinoma, although it may sometimes be performed for cosmetic purposes.

Cryotherapy, which involves freezing patches of skin with liquid nitrogen, works by causing the damaged skin cells to blister and shed.

Curettage is the scraping of the abnormal skin patches with a curette so that they can be removed. It is usually performed with local anesthesia to reduce sensation as the cells are scraped away. This method is ideal for thicker patches or early cancers. Cautery is a technique often performed after curettage, which uses heat to stop bleeding after the removal of the cells, usually leaving behind a small scar.

Excision is a technique used to cut the skin patch out, usually when there is a suspicion that it may be cancerous. This may be done under local anesthetic with a scalpel, and the wound can then be closed with stitches.

With both curettage and excision, a skin sample is usually taken from the part that is removed and examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis as cancerous and guide further treatment recommendations.

There are also several other types treatments that can sometimes be used in the treatment of actinic keratosis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a light source to activate a photosensitive cream applied to the area that leads to necrosis of the cells. Additionally, laser resurfacing can be used to remove the skin patches with a laser beam.

Post-Treatment

Following treatment for actinic keratosis, it is essential that patients protect their skin from future exposure to UV radiation, as this can worsen the condition and cause the formation of new patches.

It is recommended that patients avoid staying outside in the sun between 10 am and 2 pm, when the UV radiation is strongest. If being in the sun is necessary, they should wear appropriate protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and wide-brimmed hat. The application of sunscreen is also important, even on cloudy days.

Finally, patients should keep an eye on their skin for any changes and seek medical advice if they notice anything out of the ordinary.

References

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Actinic-Keratosis-Treatment-Options.aspx

Friday 10 March 2017

Actinic Keratosis Natural Treatment

We love the technique the sunshine feels on our skin, infusing us with vitamin D and a hot, healthy glow. But, there is always too much of a great thing to much exposure to the sun can be dangerous to our health and wreak disorder on our skin. Actinic Keratosis is an example of this and crops up as scaly rough patches that are the consequence of exposure to the sun.

Once your doctor has definite actinic keratosis analysis, you can take steps to help get rid of the spots. Along with whatever treatment you doctor prescribes, some homes remedies you can try to help get rid of the cosmetic part of the skin condition: the rough, scaly, discolored patches of skin. Natural Treatment for Actinic Keratosis you can try to get rid of skin cancer.

Natural Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a very useful ingredient for Actinic Keratosis Herbal Treatment. Coconut oil treatment takes diligence, but over time, you should notice outcome. Regularly applying natural virgin coconut oil to your actinic keratosis spots will finally remove spots from your face, nose, forehead, neck and scalp.

Initially, spots may turn red and burn a little, however, within a month; you should notice a softening of the skin as the spots start to disappear. Apply this treatment directly onto the affected area once a day, every day until you notice the spot is gone.