Do you have actinic keratosis (aka solar keratosis) ?
Large, multiple or inflamed actinic keratosis need to be treated to prevent their conversion to squamous cell carcinoma. This avoids the potentially more invasive and extensive treatment of a subsequent malignancy. Regular follow-up visits are usually needed when there are many keratoses.
Topical cream is effective in removing keratoses, particularly when lesions are numerous. The patient twice daily applies the medication, with progress checked by a physician. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cream, the most commonly used medication, is used for 2 to 4 weeks.
Treatment leaves the affected area temporarily reddened and raw and will cause some discomfort resulting from skin breakdown. The more raw and inflamed the skin becomes, the better the end result.