Download Psoriasis and Skin Cancer

Psoriasis and Skin Cancer
Human Anatomy/Physiology
The Integumentary System
• Psoriasis

-Psoriasis is a skin disorder that affects 7 million
Americans. It is characterized by keratinocytes
that divide and move more quickly than normal
cells from the stratum basal to the stratum
corneum. The premature keratinocytes form flaky,
silvery scales at the skin surface typically on the
knees, elbows, and scalp (dandruff). Effective
treatments are various topical ointments and UV
phototherapy which is used to suppress cell
division, decrease the rate of cell growth, or inhibit
keratinization.
• Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is the most typical form of
the disease. The characteristics include
patches of red, raised skin. The buildup of
flaky, silvery-white skin on top of the plaque is
called a scale. The scale will continually
come loose and shed from the plaque. The
skin affected is usually very dry, and
symptoms include skin pain, itching, and
cracking.
Plaque Psoriasis
Guttate Psoriasis
• Guttate psoriasis appears in small, red,
individual drops on the skin. Most often,
they are seen on the torso and limbs, but
sometimes on the scalp also. Typically,
they aren’t thick or scaly like plaque
psoriasis, but spread over the affected
areas like chicken pox. This form of
psoriasis often begins in childhood or
young adulthood and is triggered by an
infection of some sort.
Guttate Psoriasis
Inverse Psoriasis

Often called flexural psoriasis, this form is mainly
found on the armpits, groin, under the breasts,
and in other skin folds around the genitals and
buttocks. The skin appears smooth, dry, red, and
inflamed with no scaling. This condition is
particularly subject to irritation from rubbing and
sweating due to the location in the skin folds and
tender areas. It’s more common and troublesome
in overweight people.
Inverse Psoriasis
Erythrodermic Psoriasis

Although this is the least common form of
psoriasis, it appears most often on people with
unstable plaque psoriasis where the lesions are
not clearly defined. Most of the body surface is
affected by periodic, widespread fiery redness of
the skin. The erythma (reddening) and exfoliation
(shedding) of the skin is accompanied by severe
itching and pain. Swelling may also be a
symptom.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Generalized Pustular
 This form is also relatively rare, but forms when
widespread areas of reddened skin develop and
become acutely painful. Pustules (blisters of
non-infectious pus), appear on the skin, dry out,
and then reappear in repeated cycles lasting
several days.
Generalized Pustular
Localized Pustular
 Localized pustular psoriasis appears mainly on
the hands and feet. It is characterized by
pustules in fleshy areas that appear in studded
patterns throughout the reddened plaques of
skin. The pustules then turn brown and peel from
the skin. Another rare form of this type of
psoriasis is characterized by lesions on the ends
of fingers and sometimes toes. The lesions can
be painful and disabling by causing nail
deformities which, in severe cases, causes the
nails to turn to bone.
Localized Pustular
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is caused in most cases by repetitive
sun-damage and sun-exposure. Because of this, it is most
often seen on scalp, forehead, face, nose, neck, and back.
The cancer appears as a smooth, pearly-shaped lump with
small veins snaking around the surface. If left untreated,
BCC can eat away at the skin, leaving a patch that looks like
rat had been chewing at it. This is known as a “rodent
ulcer.” To determine if BCC is present, the doctor will take
a biopsy of the suspicious area. The sample is sent to a
pathologist who tests it for cancer cells. Treatments are
surgically removing the diseased skin, destroying it using
liquid nitrogen, electricity, or a laser, and microscopically
controlled surgery for cosmetically important areas. This
type of cancer rarely spreads.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
*This is a person’s face*
Squamous Cell Carcinoma

SCC appears mainly in people 55 years and older. The
disease is believed to be in direct relation with the total
accumulation of solar radiation in a person’s lifetime. The
growths are most likely found on the forehead, temple,
ears, neck, shoulders, and legs. It begins as a
precancerous growth that slowly develops into a firm,
small, irritated lump. As the lump grows, it begins to break
down and ulcerate. The cancerous area bleeds easily when
scraped, but is associated with little to no pain. Treatment
begins the same way as BCC treatment, but surgical
removal of the cancerous growth is the only course of
treatment. Because SCC is likely to spread, all of the
cancerous tissue must be removed.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is on the rise in the U.S. In
fact, it’s increasing by 4-8% every year. One in
every one hundred Americans will develop this
cancer. Much of this rise is contributed to
society’s obsession with tan skin. This form of
skin cancer is the most likely to metastasize, or
spread through the bloodstream to other areas of
the body. Melanoma typically starts with a tan
spot that slowly grows and changes.
Melanoma Continued...
 Another type is called “nodular” melanoma
which develops into a black, blue, or white mark
that rapidly grows into a bump/mole. Because
melanoma spreads so quickly, early diagnosis
and removal of suspicious moles is very
important. Once it spreads, malignant melanoma
is very difficult to treat. Studies are being done to
see if chemotherapies are an effective treatment.
As of now, there are no great treatments for
malignant melanoma. There are four general
types of malignant melanoma.
Superficial Spreading Melanoma

This is the most common type of melanoma,
accounting for 65% of a diagnosed cases. It
begins at one focus in the skin in the junction of
the dermo-epideraml layers. It starts growing on
a horizontal plane just above and below the
dermo-epidermal junction. This is called the
“radial” growth phase. The mole that results
from such a growth violates the rules of color,
border, elevation, asymmetry, and diameter.
Superficial
Nodular Melanoma
 This form of the disease is much less common,
and grows in thickness rather than diameter. The
outlook worsens as the mole thickens. This form
of melanoma metastasizes easily and violates
color, diameter, and elevation.
Nodular Melanoma
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma

This form is seen mainly in the older population.
It may grow for years horizontally before the more
aggressive vertical growth stage begins. This
type violates asymmetry, border, color, diameter,
and eventually elevation.
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
Acrolentiginous Melanoma
 This type of melanoma appears mainly on the
hands and feet. Because of this, it is usually
ignored by the patient, and then spreads
throughout the body. Color, diameter, border, and
asymmetry are all indications.
Acrolentiginous Melanoma