Skin Disease or Dermatology - Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a malignancy that affects the outermost part of the skin, the epidermis. This is often clearly visible and hence easily detectable.

Skin cancer is malignancy related to the skin; it generally affects the epidermis or the outermost layer. This makes the cancer clearly visible and, therefore, easily detectable.

Several causes for skin cancer are cited - excessive exposure to UV light, family history and unhealed wounds on the skin, are believed to be the primary causes. Three types of skin cancers are widely recognized, depending upon the type of skin cells that they arise from.(

5^✔) They are -

• Basal cell cancer: These cancers make up 80% of all skin cancers. Symptoms include new skin lesions that may range from white to brown color. These lesions may fail to heal, which may result in bleeding.

• Squamous cell carcinoma: This cancer affects the middle-layers of the skin layer and the symptoms may resemble those of basal cell carcinoma. This type of malignancy makes up for 16% of skin cancers.(6^✔)
• Melanoma: This makes up for 4-5% of all skin cancers and is, therefore the rarest of all the skin cancers. Melanoma is the most dangerous of all the skin cancers. The cancer attacks the melanin (pigment) -producing cells and spreads rapidly. The lesions may vary in color, shape or size and may, sometimes, bleed. Any change in an existing mole should be monitored and subjected to immediate medical examination.(7^✔)

Reference:

1. Skin Conditions - (https://medlineplus.gov/skinconditions.html)
2. Inflammatory Skin Disease - (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols/ontologies/efo/terms?short_form=EFO_1000636)
3. Microbial Infections of Skin and Nails - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8301/)
4. Common Viral and Fungal Skin Infections - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11890082)
5. Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma) - (https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/skin-cancer-non-melanoma/view-all)
6. Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma (And Related Lesions) - A Guide to Clinical Management in Australia - (https://www.cancer.org.au/content/pdf/HealthProfessionals/ClinicalGuidelines/Basal_cell_carcinoma_Squamous_cell_carcinoma_Guide_Nov_2008-Final_with_Corrigendums.pdf)
7. What Is Melanoma Skin Cancer? - (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer/about/what-is-melanoma.html)