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Not all skin cancer needs surgery – topical skin cancer treatment

Key Takeaways

  • Better cosmetic outcome than surgery or cryotherapy.
  • Cost effective 
  • Treat extensive areas in a single session. 
  • Suitable for both face and body
  • Long-lasting results 
  • Only suitable for specific lesions

Topical Skin Cancer treatments involve the use of medicated creams that a applied to the skin, either in the clinic or at home. The three treatment options available at Shellharbour Skin are Imiquimod cream (Aldara), Fluorouracil (Efudix) which are at home treatments and Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) that is activated by light, known as Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT).  

Topical skin cancer treatments can address the unsightly cosmetic outcomes of sun damaged skin, as well as pre-cancerous lesions, actinic keratoses and superficial skin cancers such as bowens disease and superficial basal cell carcinomas. Common treatment areas: face, decolletage, and hands. We can also treat other body areas as needed. 

Dr. Barney Gordon completes a comprehensive skin cancer check prior to topical skin cancer treatment. Dr. Barney may take biopsies to confirm the diagnosis of lesions if needed.  

Table – Topical skin cancer treatment at a glance

Indications: Sun damaged skin, sunspots, solar keratosis, actinic keratosis, bowens disease and intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma

Treatment time: 3 hrs for PDT, 28 days for Efudix, 6 weeks for Aldara 

Number of treatments recommended: Varies

Duration of results: clearances rates above 95%

Downtime and anesthesia: Varies

Cost: $

Topical Skin Cancer treatments involve the use of medicated creams that can be applied to the skin, either in the clinic or at home. The three treatment options available at Shellharbour Skin are Imiquimod cream (Aldara), Fluorouracil (Efudix) which are at home treatments and Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) that is activated by light, known as Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT).  

Topical skin cancer treatments can address the unsightly cosmetic outcomes of sun damaged skin, as well as pre-cancerous lesions, actinic keratoses and superficial skin cancers such as bowens disease and superficial basal cell carcinomas. Common treatment areas: face, decolletage, and hands. We can also treat other body areas as needed. 

Dr. Barney Gordon completes a comprehensive skin cancer check prior to topical skin cancer treatment. Dr. Barney Gordon may take biopsies to confirm the diagnosis of lesions if needed.  

topical-skin-cancer-treatments-including-pdt

Topical Skin Cancer Treatment Options

Imiquimod cream (Aldara) 

Aldara cream is a topical cream indicated to treat skin cancers and premalignant disease. Aldara is the trade name for the chemical Imiquimod 5%. Patients apply the cream at night before bed, with the frequency and duration of use prescribed depending on the indication. Typical treatment is for 6 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of healing. Inflammation is a sign the treatment is working. The more inflamed, the better the outcome. The treated areas peel, blister and scab over as the treatment takes effect, destroying the target area over the course of the treatment.  

Flurouracil (Efudix) 

Efudix cream is used to treat sunspots and early stages of superficial squamous skin cancers. Efudix targets the problem cells while keeping the healthy skin cells intact.  
After 5 to 10 days of treatment, the sun-damaged parts of treated skin become red and scaly. As the treatment continues, the sun-damaged parts of the treated skin may develop sores and crusts. These raw areas result from the destruction of defective skin cells. Patients apply the cream at night before at least 1 hour for bed for 28 days.

General timeline for Efudix  

  • Week 1: Mild redness
  • Week 2 to 3: Red, crusted, uncomfortable  
  • Week 3 to 4: Peeling and blistering

You may notice redness and inflammation in nearby areas of skin that did not appear to have any abnormalities. This is because of the invisible abnormal cells in your skin. If you have many abnormal cells and lesions, you can expect to develop more redness and inflammation than a person who has a single area of abnormality. 

Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT)  

PDT is an effective method for treating sun damage (solar keratoses) and shallow skin cancers (superficial BCCs). This is an in clinic treatment option offered at Shellharbour Skin. The treatment comprises two 30 minutes of appointments, on the same day, 3 hours apart. During your first appointment, our staff will cleanse the area and apply a cream and dressing to your skin. At your second appointment 3 hours later, the doctor will remove the dressing and cream, and then place the area under a large powerful LED light that activates the cream. The activated agent selectively destroys only the skin cancer cells. PDT can produce excellent cosmetic improvements, as well as removing the problem cells. 

Benefits of Topical Skin Cancer Treatment:  

  • Non-surgical option for treatment of sun damage and skin cancers  
  • The risk of hypopigmentation which can occur with cryotherapy, is significantly reduced.
  • Quick in clinic appointment with Dr Barney Gordon 
  • Sometimes, you can apply topical cream from the comfort of home.
  • Improved overall cosmetic outcomes, especially with Photo Dynamic Therapy 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a skin check before treatment?

Yes. All patient need to be reviewed by Dr Barney Gordon prior to treatment.

I have already seen another doctor and have biopsy results. Can I come for treatment?

Absolutley. Talk to the reception team, who will arrange an appointment for you.

I still have so many questions. Who should I talk to?

Booking a consult with Dr Barney Gordon is the place to start. During your consult, he will access your skin and answer all your questions.

Sounds great. Where do I start?

Before undergoing a treatment, you must register at our Shellharbour clinic for an initial consultation with our qualified clinical team. During your consultation, you will discuss your lifestyle and health, including medical history, allergies, and any medications or supplements you may be taking. It is important to mention any allergic reactions to drugs or skin care products you may have experienced in the past and any other recent beauty treatments you’ve had. These factors affect how your body responds and how the treatment recovers.

If you have any concerns, a consultation is when you ask questions about your treatment. Your clinician will ask about your current problems and reasons for wanting a cosmetic procedure and evaluate the treatment area. You should discuss what you hope to achieve with the treatment and your aesthetic goals. All the information you provide during the consultation is essential to developing a customised treatment plan that considers your health, concerns and expected outcomes to achieve the best possible result.

What to expect while having topical skin cancer treatment?

Whether Aldara, Effudix or PDT, there areas significant reactions to the skin while having topical skin cancer treatment. During treatment, the area of your skin being treated will look and feel irritated. The redness, inflammation, irritation, crusting and peeling you see are signs the chosen treatment is working to eliminate the abnormal cells. While this stage of treatment might be uncomfortable, it is important that you do not stop the treatment without checking with your doctor first.

It is important to practice sun avoidance in the weeks during topical skin cancer treatment. For this reason, we typically advise treatment during the cooler months of the year wherever possible.

Have a Question?

If you have a question, get in touch and one of our staff will be in touch shortly.

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