Eradicating actinic keratosis: Pros and cons

Dr. Neal Bhatia, who participates in clinical research and is in private practice in San Diego, Calif., talked with Dermatology Times’ Pamela Kreigh about his stance on the pros and cons of routinely eradicating actinic keratosis.  Significant data supports both sides, with clinical data addressing potential recurrences, spontaneous regression, side effects caused by treatments, and SCC transformation rates.

“There’s data that shows that 80-100% patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma have a history of AK. SCC can show up in different periods…maybe less than 1% transformation in a year, but if you look in terms of 10 to 25 years, that could be as high as 20% for the rate of SCC developing from AK," says Dr. Neal Bhatia.

Dr. Bhatia provided his opnion on this controversial issue.

• Why routine eradication of AKs is controversial

• Why he believes routine eradication is necessary

• What it means for dermatologists

“The biggest thing we have to remember in dermatology is that we have to treat through the disease, similar to the way oncologists do.” says Dr. Bhatia. 

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