Why Winter Is the Perfect Time for Your Mohs Surgery
If you need to have skin cancer removed with a Mohs procedure, now’s the time. Getting this procedure done over the winter has some notable benefits.
Is It Just Dry Winter Skin, or Is It Actinic Keratosis?
As temperatures drop across the DMV area, the cold weather takes a toll on skin. You might find yourself using lotion more frequently to try and alleviate the pervasive dryness. While dry skin can be annoying, it’s not anything to worry about.
That doesn’t mean you should dismiss rough patches, though. Pay attention to areas that feel particularly dry, especially if they don’t seem to respond to topical moisture.
These areas could be actinic keratosis, precancerous growths that develop as a result of sun exposure. Fortunately, Ali Hendi, MD, and Kristina Lim, DO, specialize in diagnosing and treating this skin condition.
Our team helps people throughout the greater Washington, DC, area, northern Virginia, and the eastern shore of Maryland address actinic keratosis. Let’s go over a few signs of when a dry patch of skin warrants a visit to our office in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Warning signs of actinic keratosis
Actinic keratosis often starts like a scaly patch on your skin. Generally, some signs differentiate it from a normal area of dry skin, though. Watch for:
- Raised areas
- Areas that get harder over time
- Something that resembles a wart
- Changes in color (it could be pink, red, brown, or even silvery)
- Itching
- Increased sensitivity (even clothing rubbing could be bothersome)
- Bleeding
Actinic keratosis develops in response to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. As a result, you have a much higher likelihood of developing it where you get a lot of sun. If you notice a spot of dry skin with any of these warning signs on your face or arms, for example, it’s worth coming to see us.
Getting fast care helps you stop this precancerous skin condition in its tracks. If you leave it unchecked, it could develop into squamous cell carcinoma.
Treating actinic keratosis
To start, your provider evaluates the problem area to determine if it’s actinic keratosis or something else. If the area shows signs of precancerous cell development, we create a treatment plan to address those abnormal cells.
This could be a topical cream you apply for a few weeks or months, or treatment such as cryotherapy (freezing the area) or surgical removal if skin cancer is of concern. We help you find the right option based on where you have the actinic keratosis and your family history of squamous cell carcinoma.
In most cases, your actinic keratosis should clear up within a few weeks of treatment. Not only will this alleviate the dry, rough area, but it will also reduce your risk of that patch going from precancerous to cancerous.
If you think you might have actinic keratosis, call our office at 301-812-4591 or book your appointment online today.
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