Tampa Bay Specialist Offers Two-Part Treatment for Pre-Cancerous Actinic Keratosis

TAMPA BAY, FL--(Marketwired - Sep 18, 2014) - According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 58 million Americans are affected by actinic keratosis (AK). Jeffrey Hunt, DO, warns patients these unsightly lesions can often advance to skin cancer. Since there is no way to know which AK cells will become cancerous, he says, it is important for anyone experiencing this skin condition to seek treatment. At his practice, Dr. Hunt offers a two-step method using Levulan® Kerastick® topical solution and BLU-U® light therapy to help eliminate AK lesions before they evolve into squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer.

In a recent blog post titled, "PDT - Photodynamic Therapy," Dr. Hunt lists the numerous advantages associated with this combination treatment. Residents of Florida, he notes, are exposed to sunshine most of the year, which can increase their risk of developing AK. He says the Levulan® Kerastick® and BLU-U® treatment is non-invasive and typically effective on qualified patients. Other benefits include:

• No prescriptions to fill
• Minimal downtime
• Non-surgical
• Often no scarring
• Entire treatment can be completed in under 2 hours

In a subsequent blog post titled, "What to Expect From Levulan® Kerastick® and BLU-U® Treatments," Dr. Hunt details the patient experience. The Tampa Bay specialist first applies the Levulan® Kerastick® topical solution and allows the medication to permeate the area for one to two hours. Patients are then exposed to the BLU-U® photodynamic therapy for approximately 20-30 minutes. Together, Dr. Hunt says, this combination technique is designed to destroy AK cells in the targeted treatment area. Due to resulting photosensitivity, he cautions patients to avoid sunlight and bright lights for 48 hours after the initial session. He adds that this procedure, referred to as PDT, Photodynamic Therapy, can also help patients with cystic acne by partially destroying the sebaceous gland and can be an alternative to oral and topical antibiotics.

Dr. Hunt says there can be some mild side effects, mainly redness, which may last 7-10 days; however, he notes that most patients see significant cosmetic improvement as these effects diminish.

Ultimately, Dr. Hunt says patients experiencing AK symptoms should consider receiving Levulan® Kerastick® and BLU-U® therapy to help reduce the risk of developing skin cancer in the future.

About Jeffrey A. Hunt, DO, RVS, RVPI

Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, Dr. Hunt earned his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and continued his education with a three-year post-doctoral family practice residency at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. After spending seven years at his Family and Sclerotherapy practice in Akron, Ohio, he relocated to Tampa, FL, where he became Medical Director of Vein & Cosmetic Center of Tampa Bay. A registered Vascular Specialist, Diplomat of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine, and Diplomat of the Osteopathic National Boards, Dr. Hunt specializes in the treatment of vascular disorders and medical aesthetics. He has performed over 115,000 non-surgical vein treatments since 1991 and has received numerous accolades, including a new certification from the American Board of Phlebology (ABPh) for vein treatment. Dr. Hunt is available for interview upon request.

For more information about the Vein & Cosmetic Center of Tampa Bay, please visit veincentertampa.com and facebook.com/veincentertampa.

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