Actinic Keratosis Treatment with Exfoliation from a Memphis Dermatologist

George Woodbury
9 hours ago
3 min read

by George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (12/20/2025)

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing Actinic Keratosis with a young male patient — Memphis Dermatologist George Woodbury Jr. M.D. talks about Skin Cancer with a young male patient

A solar keratosis, or actinic keratosis, is a precancerous growth that develops on the skin due to exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or from tanning salon lamps. Solar keratoses usually present as rough, raised lesions of the face and neck, the extremities, and the trunk. As a Board-certified Memphis Dermatologist since 1993, let me share important treatment options for dark spots and wrinkles, from prescription exfoliation treatment options to nonprescription alpha hydroxy acid treatments including glycolic acid exfoliant.

This patient with Solar Keratosis on his scalp would benefit from a full-body Skin Cancer Screening by a Board-certified Dermatologist — This male patient has numerous Solar Keratoses on his scalp from excessive UV light exposure

Why are Solar Keratoses important?

Dermatologists tend to treat solar keratoses because of the risk of development of Squamous Cell Skin Cancer or Squamous Cell Carcinoma within these lesions. Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the skin takes the lives of over 9,000 Americans every year. Any given actinic keratosis lesion has a yearly risk of becoming cancerous of between 2% and 20%. So both preventing Solar Keratoses and treating them once they’ve developed is really important to your health.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing Actinic Keratosis with a young female patient — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses Solar Keratosis with a young female patient

What are treatment options for Solar Keratoses or dark spots?

Many dermatologists treat solar keratoses, after making the diagnosis, with what’s called liquid nitrogen, or cryotherapy, a treatment which allows the body to replace the sun-damaged cells with new skin. Another option is laser therapy, available through Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons. Another option is Photodynamic Therapy, in which a sun-sensitizing chemical called aminolevulinic acid is painted onto the lesions and then they’re irradiated with ultraviolet light.

Female patient applying Retin A Cream as part of a care plan for Solar Keratosis and dark spot treatment — Female patient applying Tretinoin Cream which is a Retinoid that helps both Acne and Solar Keratosis and which acts as a wrinkle cream treatment

Medical treatments used by Dermatologists like myself for sun damage, for dark spots, and for Actinic Keratosis include a prescription cream called 5-Fluorouracil (Efudex® Cream, Fluoroplex® Cream, Carak® Cream, Tolak® Cream), imiquimod cream (Aldara®, Zyclara®) Diclofenac Sodium Gel (Solareze® Gel), and Tirbanibulin Cream (Klysiri®).

We also often advise use of prescription tretinoin cream (Retin A® Cream) as part of a treatment plan for people needing dark spot treatment or photoaging or sun damaged skin or Solar Keratosis.

Dermatologists have used chemicals called Alpha Hydroxy Acids including Glycolic Acid for many years to promote skin rejuvenation. What is an exfoliant? It’s a chemical that encourages the outer layer of the skin, the Epidermis, to release older dead cells, much like a tree releases older leaves in the fall, so that new skin cells, or Keratinocytes, can develop from the lower layers of the Epidermis.