We Present Here The New Treatment For Skin Eczema, And Basically Actinic Keratosis

What Is The Condition Of Actinic Keratosis? 

The most common precursor to skin cancer is actinic keratosis. They can appear anywhere on the body or face, even on bald scalps, as these lesions are most typically found in fair-skinned individuals. They can take years to become apparent when they are caused by sun exposure and severe sunburns. They feel like sandpaper as they look like red, scaly patches. 

As the lesions can turn into squamous cell skin cancer at moment, actinic keratosis should be treated promptly whereas many people shrug it off thinking it as a mild cosmetic problem. Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the lesions which then typically scab and fall off in a couple of days, is the usual treatment. Spaced two weeks apart, most cases require two sessions of cryotherapy. Although it may burn a bit, it’s a mostly painless procedure. 

Another alternative especially useful when there are multiple sites to treat are topical treatments with prescription creams that the patients apply at home. Actually, considered topical chemotherapy is 5-FU which is a heavy-duty cream. It must be applied for several weeks to be effective. Many people report a burning sensation whereas a common side effect is a red and swollen skin. 

Basically, stimulating the immune system to kill pre-cancerous cells, is Aldara an immune-response modifier. Even though it takes several weeks, it irritates the skin less than 5-FU. Some doctors prefer intermittent Aldara therapy where patients use it two weeks on, two weeks off for three cycles to lessen the chance of irritating the skin. To cover all bases and make sure the lesions are completely eradicated, Aldara is frequently used in conjunction with cryotherapy. 

But these treatments take time - so much time that most of the patients often fail to complete them. A new gel may now work far faster. Studies by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have been published showing ingenol mebutate topical gel taking just two or three days as opposed to weeks clearing these pre-malignant skin lesions. Ingenol mebutate derived from a weed commonly found in Europe and Asia where it is a traditional folk remedy for skin lesions is an interesting fact. 

Sold as Picato a prescription-only medication is this new topical gel that has been approved by the FDA. It seems to irritate the skin far less than Aldara and 5-FU even though some people with multiple lesions may have to use it for a week instead of a couple of days. It’s an exciting development in dermatology all in all. 

The bottom line is don’t put off that visit to your dermatologist even if a new topical gel may make it far easier to treat actinic keratosis. 

The Unrelenting Misery of Eczema

For doctors and patients alike, eczema is a challenging skin condition. It means recurring misery, sleepless nights as they fight the unrelenting urge to scratch, and unsightly skin that they try to hide with long sleeves and pants for some patients with severe cases. It can be frustrating to treat for doctors since it tends to recur. 

For inflamed, itchy, raw, cracked, and peeling skin, eczema is a catch-all term. If one of your parents has it, chances are you and your children will too as eczema is usually genetic. Here is a very, very long list of triggers:

Since anything that dries the skin can set the inflammation process going, prolonged or hot baths including hot tubs and saunas are possible causes. 

Body washes, perfumed soaps, and deodorant soaps. 

Grainy body scrubs and even loofahs that include anything abrasive. 

Anything that contains lactic acid, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid along with fragranced moisturisers. 

As the pressure point can start the itch/scratch cycle, wool clothes, or elastics. 

Detergents and fabric softeners.

The most common among food allergies or sensitivities are eggs, dairy, corn, grains, yeast, artificial sweeteners, and soy. Most dermatologists recommend allergy testing for their patients as food allergens and sensitivities are so associated with eczema. Also useful are elimination diets. 

Dust, pollen, and other airborne allergens. 

One reason why eczema is usually worse in winter is because of the dry and heated environments. 

The cold, windy weather.

They should be seen by a doctor promptly as babies and children suffer the most from eczema. It is often found that the baby with eczema is in constant discomfort and thereby cries a lot. They are cranky from lack of sleep and often do poorly in school when school children come miserable with the constant itch. The first step is washing with the mildest possible cleanser and making sure that baths are as quick as possible, for babies and small children. After that, while the skin is still damp, moisturise it with a heavy protective product. It should not be used on babies at all as steroids are the very last resort for small children. 

Usually, by the age of five, some children are lucky enough to outgrow eczema. Unfortunately, others will be lifelong sufferers. Even the over-the-counter ones that of the antihistamines are helpful for adults. Since prolonged use can thin the skin permanently, topical steroids will calm the itch and reduce inflammation but should be used with caution. Not everybody tolerates them well and they have serious potential side effects as Protopic and Elidel are the big ones. 

It is crucial to avoid triggers and otherwise take precautions every day for people with eczema. Make it a point to wear light, comfortable clothing made from cotton, silk, or linen. Those bedlinens used should be 100% cotton or satin. Use only hypoallergic detergent, put clothes through the rinse cycle twice to get rid of any trace of detergent, and use tennis balls in the dryer instead of dryer sheets when doing laundry. 

The Conclusion 

After all, you can’t control the weather and so it is hard to avoid every trigger. It will be rarely eliminated completely as taking every precaution will lessen eczema outbreaks and make life easier for sufferers and their families. Eczema is a chronic condition that can be managed but not cured which is the bottom line in most adults.