Skin cancer
For detailed descriptions of the most common types of skin cancer see:
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
- Intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma or Bowen disease (SCC in situ)
- Keratoacanthoma
- Melanoma, including:
- Common skin lesions – course
The majority of skin cancer can be prevented by careful sun protection, including sunscreens, from an early age, and detected early by regular self skin examination. Mole mapping and dermoscopy may be of benefit to those with many or atypical moles.
Other uncommon malignant skin lesions include:
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma
- Angiosarcomas
- Atypical fibroxanthoma
- Bowenoid papulosis
- Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma
- Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
- Eccrine porocarcinoma
- Extramammary Paget disease
- Kaposi sarcoma
- Merkel cell carcinoma
- Oral cancer
- Paget disease
- Penile intraepithelial neoplasia
- Sister Mary Joseph's nodule of the umbilicus
- Vulvar cancer
- Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia
Certain skin diseases, internal illnesses and genetic factors may predispose to skin cancer:
- Solar keratoses
- Arsenic poisoning
- Bazex syndrome
- Epidermodysplasia verruciformis
- Genetics of basal cell carcinoma
- Genetics of melanoma
- Genital warts
- Gorlin syndrome
- Human immunodeficiency virus infection
- Immunosuppressive medications, particularly azathioprine and ciclosporin
- Abnormal skin such as lichen sclerosus, linear porokeratosis or longstanding cutaneous tuberculosis
- Organ transplantation
- Premature aging syndromes (progeria)
- Smoking
- Sun damage (ageing skin)
- Torré-Muir syndrome
- Xeroderma pigmentosum
Current treatments for primary skin cancer include:
- Excision biopsy
- Curettage and diathermy/cautery
- Electrosurgery
- Mohs surgery
- Cryotherapy
- Fluorouracil cream
- Imiquimod cream
- Photodynamic therapy
- Radiotherapy
- Lasers
Treatment for metastatic basal cell carcinoma may include:
Treatment for metastatic melanoma may include:
Internal cancers
The skin may also show signs of internal malignancy and skin metastasis.
Related information
On DermNet:
- Skin cancer news – eMaxHealth
Other websites:
- Skin Cancer – Medline Plus
- NIWA Lauder Discussion of Ultraviolet and Ozone levels in NZ.
- Oncolink
- Cancer Society of NZ Inc.
- Skin Cancer Foundation
- CancerNet's infomation about skin cancer (National Cancer Institute)
- Skin cancer – World Health Organization (WHO)
- On Top of Cancer links to resources about skin cancer
- Skin Cancer – emedicinehealth
- Skin cancer videos – Health Video
- Patient information: Skin cancer (non-melanoma) (The Basics) – UpToDate (for subscribers)