NEW GROWTHS OF THE SKIN

Every person has a certain number of new growths on their skin; some of them are congenital, such as moles (pigmented nevi, giant pigmented nevi), and birthmarks, while others are acquired.

The appearance of new growths on the skin can be caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun, disturbances in keratinization (fibromas, keratomas), metabolic disorders (xanthomas, xanthelasmas), human papillomavirus (papillomas, genital warts, warts on the palms and soles), and other factors.

There are three main types of skin neoplasms: benign, precancerous (with the potential to develop into cancer), and malignant.

Benign tumors include:

Fibroma – singular, protruding formations on the skin, reddish-brown in color, resembling a tumor.

Hemangioma – a congenital or acquired vascular tumor that can appear at any age but is more common in children and the elderly.

Lymphangioma – a congenital tumor composed of fused lymphatic vessels. The tumor can be of any size, and its main characteristic is the hypertrophy of the affected tissues.

Precancerous – with the potential to develop into cancer:

• A cutaneous horn is a cone-shaped growth with a dense hyperkeratotic surface and a soft base. It is usually localized on the face, eyelids, auricles, and hairy areas of the head, and is rarely found on the trunk and limbs.
• Keratoacanthoma is a benign, rapidly developing epidermal tumor of the hair follicles. It is localized on the exposed parts of the body, often on the outer surfaces. Elderly individuals are usually affected, and the disease is not typically seen in individuals under the age of 20.
• Actinic Keratosis (Senile Keratosis) Characterized by dystrophic changes in the skin, actinic keratosis presents as focal keratinization of the skin. It develops on exposed parts of the skin, such as the face, hairy areas of the head, and hands, where yellowish-brown, raised flat hyperkeratotic patches form. After the removal of scales, a sharply red, moist surface appears, sometimes bleeding. The disease persists for a long time, sometimes for several years. The development of erosions, inflammation, and bleeding may be indicative of malignant transformation.
• Xeroderma pigmentosum is a congenital chronic skin dystrophy with pronounced hypersensitivity to sunlight. It manifests in early childhood (usually by the age of two). On exposed areas (face, hands, neck), edema, erythema, dry and scaly skin, telangiectasias, areas of atrophy, and hyperkeratosis develop. In some cases, wart-like growths develop on the background of atrophy. The prognosis is poor. By the age of 6-10, malignant tumors such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma develop against the background of chronic solar dermatitis.

All these types of new growths require periodic diagnosis and thorough monitoring to prevent malignant transformation.

Malignant Tumors Include:

Melanoma

Melanoma is one of the most malignant tumors, which rapidly metastasizes through lymphatic and hematogenous pathways. Melanoma develops from normal skin epidermal melanocytes and pigmented nevi.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Basal cell carcinoma of the skin is the most common malignant disease. The tumor develops from the basal cell layer of the epidermis or from the epithelial cells lining the skin appendages and is characterized by slow, locally destructive growth.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and mucous membranes is a malignant invasive epithelial tumor that develops from the prickle cell layer of the epidermis. It can occur on any part of the skin but is more commonly found on exposed areas, the lower lip, genital, and perianal regions. In recent years, a certain role of human papillomaviruses in the development of squamous cell carcinoma has been established.

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Kaposi’s sarcoma is a malignant disease that develops from the cells of the inner lining of blood vessels. The exact cause is unknown, but the disease may be related to an oncogenic virus. It begins with the appearance of a purplish papule, usually on the lower limbs. The disease progresses quite rapidly, becoming multiple. These lesions start to darken and thicken, often ulcerating.

Paget’s Disease

Paget’s disease presents as small, moist lesions on the nipple of the mammary gland, accompanied by a significant amount of serous discharge. Over time, it can lead to retraction of the nipple and the formation of a hardened fibrous protrusion.

In modern medicine, dermatoscopic examination is used for the early diagnosis of neoplasms. This is performed using a special device – an optical or digital dermatoscope.

Skin cancer screening has broad support worldwide. This method is particularly important in countries with high insolation and a high risk of skin cancer development. Georgia belongs to this category.

Everyone has moles, or nevi, on their body. It is believed that most of them appear by the age of 25, although they can also appear later. For example, during pregnancy, moles can sometimes disappear over time. A nevus can be yellow, brown, or black, all of which are within the normal range and are not dangerous.

As for malignant skin tumors, for example, melanoma, which is considered a highly aggressive malignant skin tumor, it often, but not always, develops at the site of a mole that undergoes changes: it grows irregularly, changes color, increases pigmentation, becomes covered with uneven nodules, or its color becomes uneven. Many people do not pay attention to such transformations and are convinced that it is just a harmless spot on their body.

Such ambiguous new formations require vigilant attention – consultation with a dermatologist and thorough examination.

The main tool against such problems is regular skin inspection and diagnostics, especially after the age of 40. Timely examination and screening are the keys to early diagnosis and prevention of skin cancer.

In the case of any slight suspicion from you or your dermatologist, an optical dermatoscopic examination is necessary – the examination can be conducted on the entire body, allowing for the assessment of new skin formations on any part of the body – the scalp, nail plate, genital area.

Dermatoscopy can determine the degree of dysplasia (transformation) of new skin formations, advise the patient on removal methods, or suggest a monitoring regime.

Even when the new formation is benign, but constantly experiences friction, pressure, or trauma, it should be excised from a medical point of view. For example, in the groin area, under the armpit, under the breast, on the waist, or in men – on the face where they shave. Often, patients want mole removal for aesthetic reasons; in both cases, the decision should be made by a dermatologist after consultation and dermatoscopic examination to determine the boundaries and depth of the new formation and to choose the optimal removal method.

Such an examination is very important because skin cancerous formations grow year by year.

If a mole that has turned into melanoma is removed at an early stage, the probability of complete recovery is 95%, but if you miss the opportunity, it is only 20%.

Come to the “Marjani” Medical Center and undergo a dermatoscopic examination, remember: early diagnosis defeats the disease!

According to the doctor’s recommendation, the “Marjani” clinic can perform electro-surgery or surgical excision of new formations, as well as histological examination of the excised material. Surgical operations are performed by the oncological surgeon at the “Marjani” clinic.