Ingenol mebutate treatment in actinic keratosis – clinical effectiveness and potential side effects

INTRODUCTION: Actinic keratosis is a common skin disease that occurs in response to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This problem affects up to 60% of the population over 40 years of age. Actinic keratosis is considered to be a precancerous lesion leading to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The new therapeutic option for the treatment of actinic keratosis is ingenol mebutate gel (0.015%, 0.05%). AIM: Retrospective evaluation of response and potential side effects of ingenol mebutate treatment in clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight patients with actinic keratosis lesions on the face or scalp self-applied a 0.015% gel for 3 consecutive days on the 25 cm(2) marked area. They were assessed at baseline and on day 4, 7, 14 and 57. RESULTS: All patients on day 57 presented a complete absence of AK lesions in the area of ingenol mebutate application. No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that ingenol mebutate is highly efficacious field treatment for actinic keratosis.