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Dermatology

cosmetic. surgical. medical.

Discover in-depth details regarding common dermatological conditions that can be effectively treated with the help of our innovative range of treatment options. From acne, rosacea, eczema, to inflammatory skin conditions, psoriasis, seborrhoea, warts and other disorders, the following list covers a range of topics that provide you a deeper understanding of the condition you may have. If you are at all concerned with one or more of the dermatological conditions listed below, schedule a consultation with us and together we can formulate a bespoke and tailored treatment plan for you.

Area of Concern

PRE-CANCEROUS GROWTHS

ACTINIC KERATOSIS

An actinic keratosis is a rough, scaly patch on the skin that develops from years of sun exposure. It is most commonly found over the face, ears, forearms and scalp.

An actinic keratosis enlarges slowly and usually causes no signs or symptoms other than a non-healing, persistent patch on your skin. These patches take years to develop, and reflect a history of sun exposure.

A small percentage of actinic keratosis lesions can eventually become skin cancer. Hence it is important to reduce your risk of actinic keratoses by minimizing your sun exposure and protecting your skin from ultraviolet rays.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of an actinic keratosis include:

  • Rough, dry, scaly patch of skin
  • Colour as varied as pink, red or brown
  • In some cases, a hard, wart-like surface

When to see a doctor

It can be difficult to distinguish between noncancerous spots and cancerous ones. So it’s best to have new skin changes evaluated by a doctor — especially if a spot or lesion persists, grows or bleeds.

Complications

If treated early, almost all actinic keratoses can be removed before they develop into skin cancer. If left untreated, some of these spots may occasionally progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) — a type of cancer that usually isn’t life-threatening if detected and treated early. It is rare for a solitary actinic keratosis to evolve to SCC, but the risk of SCC occurring at some stage in a patient with more than 10 actinic keratoses is thought to be about 10 to 15%. A tender, thickened, ulcerated or enlarging actinic keratosis is suspicious of SCC.

Prevention

Prevention of actinic keratoses is important because the condition can precede cancer or be an early form of skin cancer. Sun safety is necessary to help prevent development and recurrence of actinic keratosis, and this can come in the form of limiting your time in the sun, wearing tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs, wearing a broad-brimmed hat to protect the scalp and face, and also regular re-application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors. It is also important to check your skin regularly and report any changes to your doctor such as the development of new skin growths or changes in existing moles, pigmented lesions and birthmarks.

Treatment

Actinic keratosis can be treated in a variety of ways such as cryotherapy, topical creams, photodynamic therapy, curettage with electrosurgery, and ablative lasers. At Angeline Yong Dermatology, a range of options are available for the treatment of actinic keratosis, and Dr Yong will partner you to come up with a treatment plan that best suits the type of lesion and location involved, your skin phototype and also your personal and lifestyle preferences.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA-IN-SITU (BOWEN’S DISEASE)

This is a very early form of skin cancer that is easily treatable (i.e. early form of SCC), where the malignant cells are only located within the upper layer (epidermis) of the skin and has not yet spread into the deeper ones. It typically presents as a scaly raised red plaque, which does not respond to treatment.

Treatment options depend on the location, size, patient preference and co-morbidities. Options include wide excision, cryotherapy, topical therapy, photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy.

WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF CONCERN?