Cutaneous horn
Cutaneous horn is a type of actinic keratosis caused by the same factors as senile keratosis. It can be conical or irregular in shape and yellow, white, pink or brown in color. It is compact and hard, consisting of dense keratin, the protein that makes up the top layer of skin. The lesion usually reaches several millimeters in diameter and several millimeters in height and takes the form of a cone, horn, spike or tumor. Cutaneous horn can appear on any body area, but is most common on areas that are more often exposed to the sun, namely the face, ears, head, hands and arms, especially in older people. In about 20% of cases, cutaneous horn can develop into malignant squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, so early diagnosis is extremely important.
Causes of actinic keratosis
Cutaneous horn is caused by excessive keratinization of the skin in a particular area, but the cause of the lesion is unknown. It is suspected that the lesion may be caused by sunlight or the human papilloma virus. Skin keratosis appears more often among elder people and those with fair complexions. In men, the lesion usually appears at a younger age than in women and is more likely to take a malignant form. It has been noted that cutaneous horns tend to appear at the site of scars and burns.
Diagnosis of cutaneous horn
As already mentioned, cutaneous horn can indicate the development of malignant squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, so any lesion characterized by keratosis should be carefully diagnosed by an experienced dermatologist. To determine the nature of the lesion, the physician performs a biopsy of the base of cutaneous horn, and the material is subjected to histopathological examination.
Cutaneous horn – methods of treatment
In our Clinic cutaneous horns are successfully treated with Alma Pixel CO2 ablative laser. A great advantage of laser therapy is the fact that it is a fast, precise and safe method. One of the most technically advanced scanners on the market allows full control of laser working time, the area covered by the treatment and the intensity of power, optimizing the effectiveness of therapy and giving full control over its outcome. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia by an experienced dermatologist. This reduces recovery time to zero – the Patient can return to daily activities immediately after removal of the lesion.
The procedure does not take long, nor does the healing time. During the procedure, the lesion is vaporized in a bloodless manner, and the high temperature guarantees the sterility of this procedure. Thanks to the gradual evaporation of the lesion and the possibility to control the process, the whole procedure is extremely precise. At the site of lesion removal under the influence of temperature blood vessels are closed, and the treated skin is covered with a scab. Healing takes place through granulation. The wound is gradually covered with new cells, thus minimizing the risk of scar formation, which is impossible when using a scalpel. The surrounding healthy skin remains intact. An additional advantage of using ablative laser is the fact that after the treatment the Patient does not feel any pain. Following the procedure the skin must be properly cared for according to the specialist’s recommendation.
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