Best Treatment for Actinic Keratoses, Fine Lines, and Sun Damage?

Question

I have multiple actinic keratoses, fine lines, and sun damage on my arms.  I am 38 and very fair skinned.  My super toned arms used to be my best feature! What would be the best treatment for me?

Francis X. Fleming, MD · Answer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a great choice to
treat your problem. It will not only treat pre-malignant lesions such asactinic keratoses, including those that are not visible, but also can improveage related wrinkles.

William Ting, MD · Answer

Nonfacial sun damaged areas such as chest and arms can benefit from a sequential chemopreventive therapy involving combination of topical imiquimod, topical 5-FU, photodynamic therapy (PDT), fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. If you were to elect to use PDT to treat sun damage for back of hands and both arms, you may need to consider lengthening incubation time beyond what would be used for the face as the skin on the arms are thicker than that of the face and would require more incubation time for the medication to penetrate across skin barrier.

Julie A. Maughan, MD · Answer

PDT could be a great fit for you.  I use photodynamic therapy frequently in my practice for treatment of AKs.  One benefit is that you don't the white spots (as opposed to the liquid nitrogen, which often leaves behind a white mark).  Patients in your age group really appreciate that - and you in particular given that your arms are such a great feature.  Patients often also see improvement in fine lines and sun damage as well.  Be sure to continue sunscreen and sun protective clothes to minimize further sun damage!

Martie Gidon, MD, FRCPC, FAAD · Answer

Photodynamic therapy will not only treat the actinic keratoses and sun damage on your arms, but will stimulate some collagen to help your fine lines.  You must use sun protection to prevent more damage.

Melanie D. Palm, MD · Answer

Photodynamic therapy is a great treatment for precancerous lesions called actinic keratoses, as the procedure globally treats the entire surface of the skin where Levulan or Metvixia is placed.  However, off-facial sites of treatment have varying responses.  I typically use longer incubation times and multiple light sources (IPL, pulsed dye laser, and blue light) to activate the photodyamic response.  Published studies on PDT have shown not only improvement of precancerous spots, but measurable improvement in sun spots (solar lentigiens), broken blood vessels, and skin texture.

Best Treatment for Actinic Keratoses, Fine Lines, and Sun Damage?

Answers (7)

Answer: Photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses on the arms

Answer: Photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses on the arms

Answer: PDT may improve precanceous spots and sun damage

Answer: PDT may improve precanceous spots and sun damage

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Photodynamic Therapy

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Best Treatment for Actinic Keratoses, Fine Lines, and Sun Damage?

Answers (7)

Answer: Photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses on the arms

Answer: Photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses on the arms

Answer: PDT may improve precanceous spots and sun damage

Answer: PDT may improve precanceous spots and sun damage

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Photodynamic Therapy

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.