Whether we’re outside working in the garden, hiking, or simply enjoying fine weather, we’re slowly accumulating more and more UV rays from the sun. Sunlight is good for us, but only to an extent. We need the sun to help give us Vitamin D, but too much sun can cause problems down the road. If you’ve recently started feeling uneven patches on the skin, little slivers or patches of rough skin, then you may have actinic keratosis.

What is it?

Actinic keratosis (also referred to as solar keratosis) forms when your skin is badly damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or indoor tanning. An actinic keratosis is generally a rough, crusty, or scaly patch of skin on a part of your body that has spend a lot of time in the sun. Many times, you’ll develop more than one.

Is it dangerous?

Actinic keratosis is technically precancerous, though many times we can catch and treat them before they become cancer. Around 6-10% of AKs can develop into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) if they are left untreated so, though the chances are slim, there is still a chance that one could turn into cancer.

We recommend removing them whenever possible, but it depends on you and your personal situation if removal is right for you. Removing the lesion before it becomes cancerous can prevent more invasive procedures, for example.

How can I treat it?

If you’re looking to remove actinic keratosis, there are a few options. Chemical peels, Photodynamic Therapy, and topical medications can all be used to help treat and remove actinic keratosis. You may also opt for cryotherapy, and have the suspect lesion removed in a similar fashion to a wart or other problematic skin lesion.

Don’t panic if you suspect that you have actinic keratosis. We can help identify and provide answers regarding your lesions so, if you or a loved one has recently found a scaly patch of skin, give us a call today to schedule a consultation. We can suggest a treatment that best fits your specific situation. Dial (403) 255-1633 for Dr. Todd Remington and (403) 252-7784 for Dr. Kent Remington.

Nobody has a pristine, mark-free complexion. Our skin carries all sorts of imperfections that remind us of where we’ve been, like scars. They spark stories like tattoos when people ask about them. Other marks come without a story, like birthmarks.

Some birthmarks may affect your ability to eat, see, or interact with other people so it makes sense that you might be looking into removal of the lesion. Birthmarks like lip hemangioma can be annoying, and you may not like the attention they bring you. Of course, you can elect to get them removed.

Keep reading to learn more about lip hemangioma and venous lakes, and how we can help you treat them.

What Is It?

Lip hemangiomas and venous lakes are blue or purple lesions that occurs on the upper and/or lower lip. Hemangiomas are caused by a group of blood vessels, while a venous lake is just one single dilated blood vessel. Because the trapped blood doesn’t have any oxygen in it, these can often appear blue (thus giving venous lakes their name).

Lip hemangioma are sometimes bestowed upon you by some unknown source when you’re born. These can often resolve themselves after a few years, so unless the lesion is causing your baby to experience issues seeing, hearing, eating, or eliminating, you might want to leave it alone and see what happens. Sometimes, these tumors can crop up spontaneously. Other times, lip hemangioma and venous lakes can occur as a result from trauma or prolonged sun exposure.

Is It Cancerous?

Though they are technically tumors, lip hemangiomas and venous lakes are benign. “Tumor” simply refers to them being an irregular mass of tissue. Put your worries to rest, though you might want to have your specific lesion looked at, just to make sure that it is in fact a lip hemangioma or venous lake and not something else.

How Do I Treat It?

We can help treat lip hemangiomas and venous lakes with a targeted laser treatment. Sometimes one treatment is all it takes, though you may need to come in for more treatments if you develop more lesions.

Call us today to schedule a consultation regarding lip hemangiomas or venous lakes. Dial (403) 255-1633 for Dr. Todd Remington and (403) 252-7784 for Dr. Kent Remington.

Dr. Kent Remington
( Mon – Wed )

Dr. Todd Remington
( Mon – Fri )