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:
  • Superficial spreading melanoma
  • Lentigo maligna
  • Acral lentiginous melanoma
  • Subungual melanoma
  • Nodular melanoma
  • Desmoplastic melanoma
  • Metastatic melanoma
• 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.

People who have had a nonmelanoma skin cancer (usually BCC or SCC) are at increased risk of further nonmelanoma skin cancer, melanoma and internal cancers in the future. This risk is particularly marked in younger people and in people that have any form of immune deficiency or immune suppression.

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:

• Vismodegib

Treatment for metastatic melanoma may include:

• Immunotherapy for melanoma
• Ipilimumab
• Vemurafenib

Internal cancers

The skin may also show signs of internal malignancy and skin metastasis.