Abstract

*Dr. Ali M. Dhahir Elethawi, Dr. Mohammed Yousif Saeed and Dr. Kanyaw Ahmed Abdall

ABSTRACT

Background: Actinic keratoses (AKs), are common, sun-induced pre-cancerous skin lesions that are confined to the epidermis. Common treatments for AK include cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen, topical treatments, chemical peels, dermabrasion, excision, laser therapy, and photo-dynamic therapy (PDT). Objective: this study was done to assess the effectiveness and safety of chemical peels (using salicylic acid 30%) in comparison to cryotherapy (using liquid nitrogen -196) in treatment of actinic keratosis. Patients and methods: sixty patients were included in this open label comparative therapeutic trial study which has been done at the dermatology teaching center in Sulaymaniyh city during the period of December 2013 to September 2014. Full history and clinical examinations were done for every patient. The patients have been divided in three groups, group-A (30 patients) have been treated by chemical peels, using salicylic acid 30%, four sessions have been done for each patient. The group-B (30 patients) have been treated by cryotherapy, using liquid nitrogen spray, two sessions have been done for each patient. Response to treatment has been assessed by counting number of lesions. Photographs were taken before and after each treatment sessions. Results: Most of the patients had showed a good improvement in their actinic keratosis after treatment in both groups. Mean number of lesions in group-A (chemical peels) before treatment was 10±4 and after treatment 6.3±2.3. The mean of percent reduction of actinic keratosis for chemical peel patients was 38.8%±11%. Mean number of lesions in group-B (cryotherapy) before treatment was 7±4 and after treatment 1.9±1.3. The mean of percent reduction of actinic keratosis for cryotherapy patients was 73.8%±7.7%. There was statistically significant reduction in lesions number after treatment (p