Actinic Keratosis

I’m sorry you’re getting no responses usedtobeblonde. I had something similar on my leg some years ago which, until treatment, was fairly innocuous. I was prescribed a cream whose name escapes me, that nearly burnt off the area & made it look really red, angry, crusty and sore for some time, but there’s no trace of it now if that helps. I was lucky it was on my leg, just above my ankle, and it’s a bummer for you it’s on your face, but I’m pretty certain it will vanish!

I'm prone to skin blemishes too - darn it! So I can resonate with this - though I've not used that item.

Years back now (ie when NHS doctors would still deal with removing skin blemishes) I got prescribed some cream or other (whose name I don't remember) for my back (which had lots of the darn blemishes). I used it as stated - and boy my back went distinctly sore and red and I was worried about it. I don't recall the name of the particular cream - though I don't think it was the same one.

I stopped using it and, as I recall, it took a couple of weeks or so and the soreness/redness had gone and my back was normal again (still with the darn blemishes though - which had had no effect whatsoever on them). So - the pain and redness didnt last - even though I'd done nothing to alleviate it other than just wait it out.

For right now - for the irritation caused by the cream = I'm wondering if you could use colloidal silver to resolve the irritation?

Reason being I have some colloidal silver in myself and am starting to experiment with it a bit (the one I have is called "Argent Colloidal" from Amazon).

Cue for I got a couple of very minor burns recently and thought "Worth a try" and ran my hand briefly under the cold tap as per usual to start with. Then sprayed some of my colloidal silver onto those burns - and it struck me only minutes later that the burn had stopped hurting. That was followed by the burn mark healed up very quickly too. I'm used to swearing madly for rather longer than only about 5 minutes - as I wait for pain from a burn to subside.

So it worked well and very quickly when I used that on my poor irritated skin from those minor burns. If I'd had those problems I got from that ointment back along then I'd certainly have sprayed there with some of that.

Try it...

Just checked - and your blemishes are the same thing I had - only mine got called solar keratoses.

I have no idea if the cream would have worked for me eventually - as I'd already used it for as long as the doctor said and then used it for another week or so on top (as I'd seen no healing effect). The doctor seemed surprised when I informed it hadnt worked at all - but had caused me that pain.

I've landed up using other methods - ie liquid nitrogen in my case - though one has to go to private doctors or the like to get that these days (with NHS doctors now refusing). One quick blast of pain while they spray the blemish, be a bit careful with it for the next couple of days and that's what I do for them now. Can sometimes leave a white mark where the blemish was - sometimes not. But noticeably less unsightly than the darn blemishes.

I had a patch on my left cheek about 10 years ago. It was silvery and thickened. Had it checked out and was told it was Actinic Keratosis.
I was very surprised as I have never been one to sun bathe, but I'm told its very common as one gets older.

I was prescribed Diclofenac Gel, which basically "burnt" off the layers of skin. My patch was very obvious particularly when it became very red and crusty.
I'm pleased to say that once I had completed treatment, my skin healed very well, and now 10 years on, there is no sign it ever existed, not even a little patch of pink.

I have made sure I use a good moisturiser with a high sun protection factor throughout the year ever since.

Thank you both for the replies.
It is now nearly 4 weeks since I started using the cream.
My face is such a mess I have been cancelling things as I don’t want to be seen.
As it’s my nose , it is very obvious.
It is crusty and scabbing, not a good look at all.
I have actually not used the cream for 3 nights now as it just made things worse.
I must admit it has made me very low but I suppose it will pass.

I discovered AK on my nose, knew what it was so saw a dermatologist privately. It was removed within a week using liquid nitrogen. I think the total cost including follow-up was £500

Good result and a remaining white blemish on my nose but I can easily live with that. It was over and done with using the liquid nitrogen. In that cost he also removed a large benign mole on my back and had a good look at any other lesions. I bi-passed my gp

Some AK can turn to squamous skin cancers

I see now one more reply for which many thanks.
I must just be patient as it seems a common reaction and it will improve.
I seldom get out much but of course it’s Sod’s Law that it is happening now when I am being invited to things Christmassy.
I shall try to be brave and pretend I really don’t mind looking like Rudolph on a bad day.

karmalady

I discovered AK on my nose, knew what it was so saw a dermatologist privately. It was removed within a week using liquid nitrogen. I think the total cost including follow-up was £500

Good result and a remaining white blemish on my nose but I can easily live with that. It was over and done with using the liquid nitrogen. In that cost he also removed a large benign mole on my back and had a good look at any other lesions. I bi-passed my gp

Some AK can turn to squamous skin cancers

You're right on that one re they can turn to skin cancer. I don't know how often that happens - ?think it's pretty rare?

But I am very conscious about skin cancer myself - because my father was absolutely riddled with various types of skin cancer (on top of the other ailments he had). In his case I think it might have been he had particularly pale skin (thankfully my own is pale - but within normal range colour) and he was in the armed forces for years (cue for hot climates). So I put the fact of that illness in the same direction as some of his other illnesses = the Armed Forces fault.

My erstwhile younger brother also had skin cancer (assuming he's still around - which I don't know). Also went into the Armed Forces for a while.

Both of them absolutely riddled all over with skin cancer - real obvious "Spotty Dog" look all over (as far as I know) for them.

Hence I keep an eye on my skin - though I've never been in the armed forces and am not a sunbather. I don't have skin cancer - but I do have to keep whacking cosmetic blemishes off at intervals (though thankfully they're not a "stand-out" thing for me).

I've probably had to spend somewhere between £1,000-£2,000 over the years on removing these blips.

Just to ask, have you asked a doctor to take a look at your nose?

The reason I’m asking is because a friend had a patch treated on his head with some kind of cream. I don’t know which.

It bubbled up into the grossest scabby, pus like patch that was bigger than the original patch of skin, but he thought that was the treatment.

He had to go back fir them to assess another patch and the specialist took one look at the one that was being treated and said “My God. That’s the worst allergic reaction I’ve ever seen!”

A different cream was prescribed fir the second patch and the result was just a sore redness really.

This probably has nothing to do with your treatment but it might be worth asking fir a photo consultation?

Glad I kick started this thread for you usedtobeblonde. I have a Basel cell carcinoma (BCC) on my leg, just below my knee which I’ve had for over 40 years. Stays dormant for ages and then flares up from time to time. It’s in a flare up stage at the moment and I'm about to start treatment with Aldara cream which will temporarily clear it up. Either that or surgery & a skin graft or a series of radiography. Surgery definitely out at 86 as far as I’m concerned after all these years. I had a small BCC on my neck cut out years ago & there’s not even a scar. BCCs are very common, rarely life threatening & rarely spread.

I was just going to mention Aldara which my dh has used in the past, it was horrible and he has avoided since. We have a friend abroad who had the same reaction to it so best be prepared Grammargran . Aldara is not for the faint hearted.
Good luck, hope it will be ok for you, but be prepared.

I had one of these on my face - right cheek, - last year.
It was treated with Efudix cream very successfully and hasn't returned so far. I now use sun-cream factor 50 on my face every day, as instructed.

I have now contacted my GP and wait for a reply.
I shall let you know of the outcome, thank you all.

Appointment at 2pm.

I have used Aldara cream before silverlining and it cleared up the BCC temporarily (expected). It was the Efudix cream (thanks for the reminder henetha) which nearly burnt a patch off my leg as mentioned in my earlier comment, so I’m guessing people react differently to different treatments. Weird!!

Usedtobeblonde, let us know how you get on!

That’s interesting Grammargran, dh had to use it on his ( bald) head and it was a nightmare. He has ongoing problems with it ( SCC) and has Efudix which he is ok with. .

What is the name of the cream you are using UTBB ? Your description sounds pretty much like my dh response to Aldara.
Good luck for today, not long to wait now.

It is Tolak, once a day.
I have just seen a lovely GP and she has advised a weeks break to help the skin which is very sore and then use it again for a week.
It is very close now to both my eyes and she is concerned about the damage to the very thin skin in that area.
She also took 3 photographs to be able to make a comparison if/when I need to go back.
I am relieved it has been seen and I send many thanks to all of you who have shared your experiences.

Pleased you have seen your GP and got advice. I had AK on my cheek and when treated it looked a real mess but now there is absolutely no sign of it. Three months ago I had a BCC removed from my nose, just avoided having to have a skin graft as I caught it early but it was very unsightly as the stitches burst because my nose swelled up, however, although I have a slightly remodelled nose now, no one notices it. It's healed really very well. Sometimes I think we just have to be patient and accept that treatment can be a bit messy and uncomfortable. I bet by christmas it will be healed and almost forgotten!

To all the kind people who responded with advice and kindness when I posted originally.
I should like to say thank you.
After 9 ish long weeks my nose is healed and looks good.
Only slightly pink but so smooth and good looking.

I was really upset while treatment was ongoing as the middle of my face was there for all to see, it was a mess.

If my GP had told me the full facts, to be fair she did warn, but not enough, I think I would have left it until after Christmas and possibly gone with less invasive but longer treatment.
However it is all behind me now, no I haven’t been to a pantomime this year!! I am so happy.

Well done you, usedtobeblonde. I’m girding my loins to start Aldara cream on the bcc just below my knee which has been there for about a hundred years. Thank goodness for trousers! Happy New Year, everyone, when it arrives. Let’s hope 2026 is quiet!

I am glad I have read this thread. I have a keratinizing lesion on my upper cheek and plan to see the GP who has an interest in skin. I understand that they are not life threatening so I have left it for quite a while during which time it has only grown a little. I expect I will be prescribed a similar cream.

Usedtobeblonde

Thank you both for the replies.
It is now nearly 4 weeks since I started using the cream.
My face is such a mess I have been cancelling things as I don’t want to be seen.
As it’s my nose , it is very obvious.
It is crusty and scabbing, not a good look at all.
I have actually not used the cream for 3 nights now as it just made things worse.
I must admit it has made me very low but I suppose it will pass.

This is how it work, I think, UTTB.
it's unfortunate it is happening just over Christmas but do persevere.

Actinic keratosis are pre-cancerous cells and the cream acts by destroying these cells. It can cause redness, discomfort and crusting. DH was prescribed some by a Consultant Dermatologist years ago and was prescribed more recently but it seems to be out of stock everywhere at the moment.

I was prescribed Diclofenac Gel, which basically "burnt" off the layers of skin
Really? Diclofenac gel is an anti-arthritis gel and I have never known it to burn the skin. That is not what it is for.