Laser Actinic Keratosis Removal

What is an actinic keratosis?

Actinic Keratosis (also known as solar keratosis) is identified by a small reddish, scaly, dry patch of skin that forms overtime and is often associated with sun damage. Actinic keratosis can be considered as a precancerous skin lesion that if left untreated, can develop into skin cancer.

What are benefits of Laser treatment?

Actinic keratoses can be removed effectively and quickly from the face and body. For facial actinic keratoses, laser treatments may avoid the scarring from the liquid nitrogen or acid-based chemicals commonly used by many health practitioners.

While some minor scarring can occur from a laser treatment, this is usually pale white and no larger than the treated area. Facial skin heals very well. In most cases, where the face is treated, you will be unable to detect the original location of the keratosis once the treated area has healed. However, other areas of the body don’t typically scar as well – this means that there is likely to be white scar seen on the body, that is consistent of the same size of the original actinic keratosis lesion.

Is Laser Actinic Keratosis Removal Safe?

It is important to understand that in some cases, actinic keratosis can develop into skin cancer. It is important that you have your actinic keratosis checked by your specialist skin cancer practitioner, prior to undergoing any laser treatment. 

What Can I Expect in the Treatment?

First, we will clean the area to be treated and if required, topical anaesthetic may be applied. Then your actinic keratosis lesion(s) will be removed using our laser technology.

How long does the procedure take?

Please allow 30minutes for your initial consultation. During your consultation, your skin will be assessed and a detailed treatment plan will be constructed – this will include the time allocated for your laser removal treatment.

How many treatments will I require?

In most cases, only once treatment is required however, we recommend that you allow for an additional touch-up appointment if required.

Is the treatment painful?

To ensure you are comfortable, you will have the option of a topical, local or combination anaesthetic. The anaesthetic will ensure that the area is partially or wholly numb before your laser treatment.

Post-Procedure Results

Following your laser actinic Keratosis treatment, you will experience some redness, slight swelling and yellow oozing around the treated area(s) for a week to two weeks, following your treatment. In addition, a temporary scab will form; this is a natural part of the healing process.

The scab will usually fall off within seven to ten days, and it is essential to avoid touching or scratching the scab off the treated area. Scratching or picking at the scab can cause inflammation, making any scarring more prominent.

After the scab has fallen off, the treated area will appear red due to new capillary formation. Any redness around the treatment area will usually dissipate in a matter of months following treatment.

Potential Risks

Even though you have had your actinic keratosis(s) assessed as being benign (cancer free) by your skin cancer practitioner, there is still a risk of skin cancer being present within your keratosis(s) or lesion(s), at the time of your laser treatment.  

The laser ablates (burns) away the actinic keratosis lesion, meaning that nothing is available to be sent away for pathology for further testing, so you need to be aware that pathology testing is not possible with this treatment.  

Although the potential risks are extremely uncommon, one or more of the following may occur: 

• Lightening or darkening of the skin in the treated areas 
• Skin crusting or blistering  
• Infection  
• Scarring – which includes Hypertrophic or Keloid Scarring  

Post-Procedure Care

Following your laser treatment, you may notice redness, bleeding, bruising, swelling and weeping at the site of treatment, which can last for several days to weeks.   

It is normal for the treated area to feel a little sore and tender, for a few days post treatment.  You will keep the treated area dry and intact following your treatment. We will provide you with a topical cream to be used 3-4 times a day to the treated area, until the area has healed. 

• Please refrain from getting the treated area wet until scab has fully fallen-off the treated area.  
• Avoid exposing the treated area to the sun for a minimum of 4 weeks following treatment.
• Do not pick as scabbing can lead to scarring. 
• Makeup can be used over the treatment area so long as there is no extended redness, blistering or scabbing (mineral make-up is the best option).  
• Avoid skin irritants such as hydroquinone, bleaching creams, tretinoin, retinol creams, benzoyl peroxide, chemical peels, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid for at least 2 weeks after the procedure.  
• Avoid any rubbing or friction movements on the treated area for three days post treatment.

Please contact our clinic if you experience any inflammatory reaction and/or side effect.  If necessary, additional treatments, medications and/or surgery may be necessary. If out of hours, please attend your local medical centre or emergency department.  

We will arrange a follow-up appointment for six weeks post-treatment at our clinic. If at any time you have questions or concerns, you should contact our clinic to arrange a face-to-face appointment.  

If required, you will be provided with topical cream, designed to be used post skin injury, that will provide nutrients to accelerate the skin healing process. In addition, we also offer Ligh Emitting Diode Treatment (LED) to accelerate the healing process. 

As part of your post-treatment care plan, you will be provided with verbal and written post-treatment instructions.