Bowen's Skin Disease

Bowen's skin disease is a form of squamous cell carcinoma in situ skin cancer, which means it is a pre-invasive form of cancer, located only on the surface of the skin. The condition has a 90 percent cure rate.

Causes

• Arsenic exposure, excessive sun exposure, aging and the wart virus (HPV-16), which results in cervical cancer, are all causes of Bowen's skin disease.

Features

• Bowen's skin disease makes red, scaly patches on the skin, sometimes raised and resembling warts. When located on the vulva area of women, white patches are also present.

Symptoms

• Symptoms associated with Bowen's skin disease include itching, crusting, oozing and bleeding.

Treatment

• Treatment options for Bowen's skin disease include chemotherapy creams applied directly to the affected area, surgery, laser destruction, radiation and freezing with liquid nitrogen.

Warning

• Left untreated, Bowen's skin disease can turn into invasive cancer.