Actinic keratoses (AK) are the most common premalignant pathology seen in dermatological practice and represent a burgeoning burden upon health services. Increasingly recognized is the damage to surrounding, perilesional skin, forming the premise for field-directed therapy. Ingenol mebutate gel is a novel agent for field-directed treatment of AK, requiring only 2 or 3 days of application. Following an overview of existing treatment modalities, the authors review recent trials and safety data pertaining to the use of ingenol mebutate gel and discuss its role in the treatment of AK.