Aging gracefully can be difficult. As adults mature, unwelcome surprises start to pop-up, like crusty brown spots that slowly appear on the face, neck or other parts of the body. These common skin growths, seen with aging, are seborrheic keratosis (SK) lesions.
While harmless, these growths can make those who suffer from them quite self-conscious about their skin. Seriously, who wants to be seen with unsightly growths on their skin? Absolutely no one.
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been an easy way to treat SK lesions until biopharmaceutical maker Aclaris Therapeutics unveiled Eskata in April. The game-changing liquid is the first FDA-approved topical treatment for raised seborrheic keratoses. Our office was the first practice in Connecticut trained to use Eskata with our own Dr. Robin Evans paving the way.
What Causes SK Lesions?
Despite being a common skin condition, not much is known about what causes the growths. Studies point to sun exposure as the culprit — yet another reason to never leave the house without wearing sunscreen. However, these skin growths can appear in areas of the skin not regularly exposed to the sun. Also, SK lesions are genetic so they run in families and tend to surge as you get older.
Treatments for SK Lesions
Before Eskata, dermatologists removed SK lesions by either freezing, burning or scraping them off. As you can imagine, there are some big downsides to these methods. The procedures could be painful and leave scars. Who wants that? So, with the FDA's stamp of approval Eskata is giving people a less painful option for having their skin growths removed and a lower risk of skin discoloration compared to previous methods.
How Eskata Works
This isn't like your over-the-counter face cream. A dermatologist uses a pen-like applicator to delicately spread the highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution to each lesion four times, about a minute apart. The goal is to moisten the lesion enough to dissolve it, while avoiding damage to the surrounding skin. If the treated lesion has not completely cleared after about three weeks, another treatment may follow.
Side Effects of Eskata
As with any topical treatment, Eskata does have potential side effects including itching, stinging, crusting, swelling, redness and scaling at the site of application.
Remember to see a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis of SKs and determine whether Eskata is an appropriate treatment for you. For more information, give us a call at 1 (203) 323-5660.