Treating Actinic Keratosis and Bowen Disease
Actinic keratosis
Actinic keratosis is usually considered to be a pre-cancer. It is often treated because it might turn into squamous cell skin cancer. But because this risk is low, treatments are generally aimed at avoiding scars or other disfiguring marks as much as possible.
Actinic keratosis is often treated with either cryotherapy or topical creams or gels such as fluorouracil (5-FU), imiquimod, or diclofenac. These treatments destroy the affected area of the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, which usually cures actinic keratosis.
Other localized treatments (photodynamic therapy, laser surgery, chemical peeling) or types of surgery (shave excision, curettage and electrodesiccation) are also sometimes used.
Bowen disease
Bowen disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) is usually treated by excision (cutting out the tumor). Mohs surgery, curettage and electrodesiccation, radiation therapy, topical fluorouracil (5-FU), and cryosurgery are other options. Laser surgery or other topical therapies may be considered in special situations.
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The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
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National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Squamous Cell Skin Cancer. Version 2.2019. Accessed at www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/squamous.pdf on June 4, 2019.
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Last Revised: February 22, 2021
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