Will One Active FX Treatment Reduce the Risk of Future Skin Cancer on my Face?

I had a basel cell skin cancer removed from my back last summer and my dermatologist told me that Active FX would reduce the possibility of getting a similar skincancer on my face. In all the literature I've read about Active FX, I haven't seen this benefit mentioned. I'm 50 and fair-skinned.

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basal cell carcinoma skin cancer

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by Seattle3572 in Seattle

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Active FX and Skin Cancer

There is some evidence that laser resurfacing of the skin with a Co2 laser like Active FX may remove or decrease the amount of premalignant lesions in your face such as actinic keratosis. By decreasing the amount of premalignant lesions which usually occur from sun exposure, your risk of skin cancer in the treated area may decrease. Attached is a web reference.

Actinic Keratosis Reduced Clinlically

Clinically one can see reduction in Actinic Keratosis ( pre malignant skin growths) and there are few reports out there now supporting its use as a viable treatments option for Actinic Keratosis. However, its important to note that Active Fx is not a FDA approved for treatment of Actinic Keratosis. Therefore one should not go through with this procedure if the indication is only for removal of premalignamt lesion.

Active fx can reduce your recurrence rate for skin cancer

Active fx may reduce your recurrence rate for skin cancer. However, you should know that active fx is a fractionated approach and will get a percentage of your affected cells. Most of the studies on reducing the recurrence of skin cancer are based on complete resurfacing through either chemical peels or laser resurfacing. So, if you really want to reduce your risk of skin cancer I would suggest more complete chemical peels or laser resurfacing. For Active fx, the term would be max fx... more

Philip Young, MD

6 reviews

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Active FX Laser helps prevent skin cancer.

When you think about it, it only makes sense. The skin on your face most that is likely to go through the mutation from pre-cancer to cancer is on the surface. Therefore, any resurfacing therapy is likely to reduce the risk and "nuke" the skin that is about to go through cancerous change. This is based mostly on anecdotal evidence, rather than large double blind studies. It's a hard thing to study because skin cancer takes years and decades to occur.... more

Ritu Chopra, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

drrituchopra.com

Active FX and future skin cancer reduction

There is certainly removal of superficial actinic keratoses and skin rejuvenation with the active Fx. There have not been any controlled studies to show that one treatment will reduce your chances of another skin cancer, but results and followups have been encouraging with our patients.

ActiveFX Fractional Laser Resurfacing and Facial Skin Cancer.

CO2 Laser Resurfacing and ActiveFX Fractional Laser Resurfacing have been shown to decrease the amount of premalignant lesions, superficial skin cancers, sun damage, age spots and pigmentary changes in the skin. One ActiveFX treatment may be sufficient to facilitate reduction of your risk of facial skin cancer, depending on the extent of current lesions on your face and ensuring judicious, daily, liberal use of a broad spectrum UVA and UVB sunscreen, and other sun protection devices such... more

Active FX reduces skin cancer risk.

It is well established that laser resurfacing with Active FX reduces pre cancers and sun damage and therefore reduces skin cancer. I personally developed a skin cancer at age 36. Shortly after that I had CO2 laser (a precursor to the Active FX) and am happy to report I have never even had a pre cancer since, nearly 20 years! Understand that one person's experience means very little unless supported by research, and there is good research to support my experience.