It’s not exactly a beauty treatment — but it could save your skin.
Nationwide, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and a staggering 9,500 people are diagnosed every single day in the US.
For many, the disease begins with a common precancerous condition. Luckily, doctors say there’s a highly effective treatment that can stop it in its tracks, though the process won’t be pretty.
“My attending at the [Medical University of South Carolina] used to tell patients that their skin is going to look like raw hamburger meat,” Dr. Cynthia Wilson, a board-certified dermatologist, told The Post. “That turns people off initially, but it gets the job done.”
The condition, known as actinic keratosis, develops after years of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or tanning beds.
Over time, that exposure damages the DNA inside skin cells, causing them to grow abnormally. The result is rough, scaly patches that most often appear on areas that get the most sun — including the scalp, face, arms and backs of the hands.
While the spots themselves aren’t cancer, they can turn into it. Research suggests that about 10% of untreated cases eventually progress to squamous cell carcinoma, the nation’s second most common type of skin cancer.
Although squamous cell carcinoma is usually treatable and not typically life-threatening, it can continue to grow and, in some cases, spread to other parts of the body and cause complications if left unchecked.
“Actinic keratoses are extremely common,” Wilson said. “I don’t want my patients to lose sleep over these. They are in the precancerous stage, so that’s the good news.”
Even better, doctors have several ways to eliminate them — including prescription creams that are applied directly to the affected areas over the course of several weeks.
“The most common cream that we prescribe for this is called 5-fluorouracil, which is a topical chemotherapy cream,” Wilson said.
“It works by targeting rapidly dividing cells, and then inhibiting DNA synthesis, and then at that point, the immune system takes over and clears those abnormal cells.”
That’s where things can start to look alarming.
As the medication attacks damaged skin cells, patients often develop dramatic skin reactions that may seem jarring at first glance. But experts say those changes are typically a sign that the treatment is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.
“A visible inflammatory reaction in this setting would be expected and consistent with proactive skin cancer prevention rather than something inherently alarming,” said Dr. Tiffany Libby, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Brown Dermatology in Rhode Island.
“Redness and irritation intensify during therapy, often peaking near the end of the treatment cycle,” she said. “Patients may experience burning, stinging, tenderness and crusting.”
While the process can be uncomfortable, it’s temporary, lasting about two to four weeks after medication use stops.
“Once the precancerous cells are killed, it heals very well,” said Dr. Charles Bernstein, a dermatologist at at Staten Island University Hospital. Most patients begin healing once they stop using the medication
And the payoff can be significant.
“The [topical creams] are quite effective,” Wilson said. “The studies show a 60% to 70% reduction in precancerous lesions with one treatment.”
Across the country, squamous cell carcinoma diagnoses are climbing fast. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, rates of the disease have surged by more than 200% over the past three decades.
Today, roughly 1.8 million Americans are diagnosed each year — about 205 every hour.
And it’s not the only skin cancer on the rise. Rates are increasing across the board, including for melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease, despite more effective sunscreens and greater public awareness about the dangers of sun exposure.
Experts believe several factors are driving the trend, including longer life expectancies, improved detection methods and the effects of climate change. Gen Z’s obsession with tanning is also thought to be contributing to the increase.
Fortunately, experts say there are simple steps people can take to significantly reduce their risk of developing skin cancer.
Dermatologists generally recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. Most adults need about a shot glass’s worth to adequately cover an exposed body.
Sunscreen should be applied about 15 minutes before heading outdoors and reapplied at least every two hours. If you’re swimming or sweating heavily, opt for a water-resistant formula.
Other ways to reduce UV exposure include wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, using UV-blocking umbrellas and avoiding direct sunlight during peak hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
