Treatment
This condition is considered premalignant because it may lead to squamous cell carcinoma in about 10% of all cases. It is not possible to predict which cases will progress into SCC, so the current consensus is that all lesions should be treated.Treatment options include 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, scalpel vermillionectomy, chemical peel, electrosurgery, and carbon dioxide laser vaporization. These curative treatments attempt to destroy or remove the damaged epithelium. All methods are associated with some degree of pain, edema, and a relatively low rate of recurrence. Medication
Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, Efudex, Carac) has been shown to be an effective therapy for diffuse, but minor actinic cheilitis. 5-fluorouracil works by blocking DNA synthesis. Cells that are rapidly growing need more DNA, so they accumulate more 5-fluorouracil, resulting in their death. Normal skin is much less affected. The treatment usually takes 2–4 weeks depending on the response. The typical response includes an inflammatory phase, followed by redness, burning, oozing, and finally erosion. Treatment is stopped when ulceration and crusting appear. There is minimal scarring. Complete clearance has been reported in about 50% of patients.Imiquimod (Aldara) is an immune response modifier that has been studied for the treatment of actinic cheilitis. It promotes an immune response in the skin leading to apoptosis (death) of the tumor cells. It causes the epidermis to be invaded by macrophages, which leads to epidermal erosion. T-cells are also activated as a result of imiquimod treatment. Imiquimod appears to promote an "immune memory" that reduces the recurrence of lesions. There is minimal scarring.
Two faces on one head
Where twinning of the head itself is only partial, it can result in the condition known as diprosopus—one head with two faces. Earliest known occurrence
The February 22, 2007, issue of the journal Biology Letters detailed the discovery of a 122 million-year-old fossil of a two-headed Hyphalosaurus lingyuanensis, marking the earliest known occurrence of axial bifurcation. List of notable occurrences
Humans
Dicephalic conjoined twins (dicephalus parapagus dipus)
Lycosthenes described a pair of adult female twins who had separate necks but one body. Both heads ate, drank, slept, and spoke. They had to beg from door to door, "everie one giveing (sic) to her freely". They were banished to Bavaria due to fears pregnant women who saw them would give birth to similar children; nothing else is known of them. In 1990 Abigail and Brittany Hensel were born in Minnesota, United States. In 2000 Ayse and Sema Tanrikulu were born in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
In June 2000 Carmen and Lupita Andrade were born in Veracruz, Mexico. They later moved to the United States for healthcare with their parents. In 2003 Sohna and Mohna were born in India
On June 13, 2003, twin girls named Huda and Manal Abdel Nasser Mohammed Mahmoud, were born in Asyut, Egypt
In 2006 Syafitri was born in Indonesia
In 2007 Mary Grace and Mary Divine Asis were born in the Philippines with only one heart. They died on April 30, 2008. On August 25, 2008, a baby boy named Kiron was born with two heads in south-western Bangladesh.