Dr. S. K. Kashyap

Bowen's disease is a skin disorder; the main symptom of which is the formation of a pink or a red surface on the skin which may result in small erosion. The patches usually grow very slow but if left untreated, can lead to a more serious threat of skin cancer. The seriousness of Bowen's disease increases if it is not diagnosed or treated at the correct time. This skin cancer is known as 'squamous cell skin cancer'. 

Symptoms of Bowen's disease:

1. There will be several patches on the skin with distinctly clear edges and showing no sign of healing.
2. The patches are may be red or pink, raised or flat over the skin where it forms.
3. It may spread rapidly over a small localized area
4. It can be itchy (in some cases).

The patches are predominantly found on areas such as the head, neck and in the lower legs. Once they start to develop, you should immediately consult a skin specialist who may take a sample of the skin for diagnosis.

Causes of Bowen's disease:

1. Bowen's disease is caused due to long exposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun. Usage of tanning/sun beds may prove to be problematic.
2. Weak immunity system can cause Bowen's disease and can hamper the entire diagnostic process.
3. Previous history of Radiotherapy treatment.
4. HPV virus that can affect the genitals.

It must be noted that Bowen's disease is not hereditary in nature.

Treatment of Bowen's disease:

1. Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to treat the part of the skin which is affected.
2. Surgery: The abnormal skin is operated under the effect of local anesthesia.

Post-treatment follow-up is very important for the entire treatment process to yield results. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Dermatologist.

Cherry Angiomas are benign skin growths comprised of abnormal proliferation of blood vessels. They are also alternatively known as Campbell de Morgan spots or senile angiomas. Cherry Angiomas are a rather common skin disorder.

The Cherry Angioma appears bright red, oval or circular in shape and are small in size. They can either be smooth, and close to the skin's surface, or they can be marginally raised. They mostly appear on the arms, shoulders and torso. If the Angioma is agitated (scratched, cut open or rubbed), it might result in intense bleeding in some cases.

Causes:
The exact cause of Cherry Angiomas is unknown. Genetic predispositions are usually believed to be a major cause. Other than that, pregnancy, climate and chemical exposure have also been said to cause Cherry Angiomas.
An obvious link, however, has been established between age and the appearance of Cherry Angiomas. Usually, people over 30 develop Cherry Angiomas, which only seem to augment in number and size with age.

Symptoms:
There are no other specific symptoms of Cherry Angiomas, except for the benign growths on the skin. The skin growths are usually characterised by:

• Vivid, cherry-red colour
• Small sizes
• Smooth growths which are close to the skin's surface, or are raised

Treatment:
Cherry angiomas usually does not need any treatment, but if you want, you can remove them for cosmetic reasons. You can also remove the Cherry Angiomas if they appear in places on your body where they can get easily irritated (such as, on the hands), and cause bleeding.

Some methods of removing Cherry Angiomas include:

1. Electro-cauterization: In this method, the angioma is burned off by an electric current that is passed through a tiny probe.
2. Cryosurgery: In this procedure, the angioma is frozen with liquid nitrogen; the angioma is destroyed by the severe cold. This is a relatively easy and quick procedure.
3. Laser surgery: In this procedure, pulsed dye laser is used to remove the angioma. The pulsed dye laser (PDL) is an undiluted yellow laser that is hot enough to damage the growth.
4. Shave excision: In this procedure, the angioma is removed from the surface of the skin by a sharp razor. Shave excision is a substitute to invasive surgery that would require an incision to remove the growth and then sutures (stitches) to close the laceration. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a dermatologist.

Darier's disease is a skin disorder. It is usually chronic in nature and an inherited condition. This disease is not contagious and affects the surface cells of your skin. Generally, it starts affecting a person during adolescence. In this condition, the skin cells are not properly bound together and as a result, blisters may form on the surface of the skin, resulting in the skin becoming scaly in appearance. However, Darier's disease is not caused due to any kind of allergic reaction.

The following causes can be responsible for Darier's disease:

1. Calcium deficiency affects desmosomes (skin structure which help the surface cells of the skin to stick together), which can cause Darier's disease.
2. Exposure to harmful rays of the sun can worsen your condition
3. Perspiration may aggravate Darier's disease
4. Darier's disease is hereditary in nature

Some of the most common symptoms of Darier's disease include:

1. Itching
2. Rashes may appear on the face, neck, back and chest region
3. Your skin may smell pungent
4. Viral and bacterial infection may occur
5. Your skin tends to become greasy
6. Warts may develop on the hands
7. Discoloration of the nails is common

Darier's disease can be treated by the following treatment procedures:

1. Antibiotic ointment and topical creams (corticosteroids or retinol) can help you to get rid of the itching sensation.
2. Laser treatments can prove to be helpful in certain cases.
3. Dermabrasion can be considered as a treatment option. It removes the affected surface layer of the skin.
4. Your doctor may also prescribe oral medications containing retinoid (compounds having similar effects to those of vitamin A). If you wish to discuss any specific problem, you can consult a dermatologist.