Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
It is not considered a serious condition, but if left untreated, Bowen’s disease can develop into a more invasive form of skin cancer. Therefore,dermatologistsoften want to treat or at least monitor Bowen’s disease.
Learn more about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and prognosis for Bowen’s disease.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risks and Diagnosis
The patches most commonly appear on areas of the body that get the mostsun exposure, but can also occur in places that do not normally see the sun.
In most cases, there is only one patch. However, about 10% to 20% of people have more than one patch in multiple areas of the body.
The most common area for the patches to occur is the lower part of the leg. Less commonly, the patches appear on the soles of the feet, palms, genitals, neck, and head.
What Does Squamous Cell Carcinoma Look Like?
Bowen’s disease is not infectious, and it does not run in families—that is, it is not hereditary. The disease typically affects older people who are in their 60s and 70s.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of Bowen’s disease is not known, but several risk factors for the condition have been identified, including:
Squamous Epithelial Cells: What to Know
Arsenic Exposure
Chronic exposure to arsenic might also be a contributing risk factor for Bowen’s disease. Research suggests that Bowen’s disease may appear roughly 10 years after initial exposure to arsenic.
Today, chronic exposure to arsenic is rare. In the past, people were more likely to be exposed to arsenic because it frequentlycontaminated well waterand was used in medical preparations.
A diagnosis of Bowen’s disease is usually made during a standard skin examination. A biopsy of the patch can also be taken to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other skin conditions.
What Is Carcinoma In Situ and What Does It Mean?
Bowen’s disease is curable, and there are several ways to treat it, including surgical removal, creams, freezing, or scraping. In some cases, treatment is not necessary and the condition is only monitored.
The appropriate treatment will be individualized and based on several factors, including:
Freezing With Liquid Nitrogen
Freezing with liquid nitrogen can be done during a visit to a clinic, though it is usually done in stages for larger patches. After the treatment, the skin can be slow to heal and the procedure can cause blistering and crusting.
Excision
If the patch of skin is not too big, it can be cut out (excised). Before the procedure, a person is given a local anesthetic to make sure that they do not feel pain.
Squamous and Basal Cell Carcinoma Surgical Margins
Curettage
Curettage involves scraping off the skin from the affected area. It is done under a local anesthetic. After the procedure, the affected patch of skin will heal like a regular scab or graze.
5-Fluorouracil Cream
5-Fluorouracilis a topical cream that kills abnormal skin cells. It can be used to either control or eradicate Bowen’s disease.
During treatment, the skin may initially look worse and red, but the skin will heal normally once the abnormal cells have been eradicated.
Photodynamic Therapy
During photodynamic therapy, a chemical is applied to the affected area of the skin. The chemical causes the cells in the skin to be sensitive to certain wavelengths of light. A special lamp is then focused on the affected area.
Photodynamic therapy may cause pain and inflammation, but it typically subsides after a few days.
What Is Phototherapy?
Imiquimod Cream
Imiquimodwas originally designed to treat genital warts, but it can also be used to treat Bowen’s disease. During treatment, it may cause some inflammation.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy and other forms of laser treatment are sometimes used to treat Bowen’s disease, but not in affected areas on the lower leg.
Observation
Bowen’s disease is typically not a serious condition. A number of effective treatments can control or completely cure it.
In some cases, undiagnosed or untreated Bowen’s disease can develop into a more invasive form of skin cancer called squamous cell skin cancer. Estimates suggest the progression occurs in one in 20 to one in 30 people with untreated Bowen’s disease.
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People with Bowen’s disease need to take steps to protect their skin—for example, wearing a hat and sunscreen when outside (even on cloudy days) andwearing pants or long skirtsto protect the legs from sun exposure.
Monitoring the skin and watching for any changes in the skin patches is another important part of managing the condition. If there is any bleeding, ulceration, or the appearance of lumps or growths, a person with Bowen’s disease should let their doctor know.
A Word From Verywell
When it is managed, Bowen’s disease is not usually serious and can even be curable. However, if the condition is not diagnosed and goes untreated, it can progress to a more serious form of invasive skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Types: Most Common and Fatal Types with Pictures
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.British Association of Dermatologists.Bowen’s disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ).National Organization for Rare Disorders.Bowen disease.National Health Service.Bowen’s disease.American Cancer Society.What are basal and squamous cell skin cancers?Oxford University Hospitals.Bowen’s disease.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.British Association of Dermatologists.Bowen’s disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ).National Organization for Rare Disorders.Bowen disease.National Health Service.Bowen’s disease.American Cancer Society.What are basal and squamous cell skin cancers?Oxford University Hospitals.Bowen’s disease.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
British Association of Dermatologists.Bowen’s disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ).National Organization for Rare Disorders.Bowen disease.National Health Service.Bowen’s disease.American Cancer Society.What are basal and squamous cell skin cancers?Oxford University Hospitals.Bowen’s disease.
British Association of Dermatologists.Bowen’s disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ).
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Bowen disease.
National Health Service.Bowen’s disease.
American Cancer Society.What are basal and squamous cell skin cancers?
Oxford University Hospitals.Bowen’s disease.
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