Along with wearing sunscreen every day - whether you go outside or not - you may also want to consider using hats, gloves, and other clothing that can cover or shield the affected area of skin. You’ll also want to avoid exposing your skin to the sun while using diclofenac sodium gel. If you notice any unwanted side effects, it’s best to let your doctor know and keep applying the gel unless your doctor tells you to stop using it. You’ll typically apply it twice a day for 2 to 3 months. It’s not clear why it helps reduce the appearance of skin lesions. Diclofenac sodiumĭiclofenac sodium gel (Solaraze, Cambia, Voltaren) is a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can help treat actinic keratosis. You may need to repeat the medication, depending on the severity of the actinic keratosis lesions, according to Pratt. Your doctor can offer more personalized guidance. The treated areas will eventually become crusty and sore, Pratt says, and then you can use healing ointments like Aquaphor after stopping 5-fluorouracil for 7 to 10 days. Depending on the extent of your actinic keratosis, they may recommend applying it to the entire section of affected skin instead of the individual lesions themselves. Your dermatologist might suggest applying it once or twice a day for several weeks. “One of the widely used and most effective prescription at-home therapies is topical chemotherapy called 5-fluorouracil,” Pratt says.īrand names for this medication include Carac, Efudex, Fluoroplex, and Tolak.

These options are all topical treatments that you apply directly to your skin. However, experts have yet to test and confirm the efficacy of Kanuka honey as an at-home actinic keratosis treatment on a large scale.īut you do have several options for treating actinic keratoses at home with prescription medication, Pratt says. Loretta Pratt, a board certified dermatologist based in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.Īccording to one case study, a 66-year-old man successfully treated actinic keratosis by applying Kanuka honey regularly for 3 months. “There are no known nonprescription home remedies for treating actinic keratoses,” says Dr.

Using compound w on skin tags