It is the most common malignant skin lesion. It accounts for about 70% of all types of skin lesions, according to studies.
It is very common in people over 40 years of age with fair skin.
Cause
Its cause is related to exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet radiation. Other factors are: radiotherapy irradiation and absorption of arsenical compounds.
The population at risk is: people with fair skin, predisposition to sunburn and difficulty tanning.
As with other skin tumors, extensive and prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of developing skin lesions. A person who has had this injury has a greater chance of having another injury than the general population.
This tumor rarely metastasizes and is treated as an exception.
Its major morbidity is local with the invasion and destruction of adjacent tissues vertically and horizontally, including bone and cartilage, as examples.
It generally affects the head and neck region, areas of solar photo-exposure, and this aggressiveness can lead to disfigurement of the person and loss of function of important structures (loss of vision), when not treated properly.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made through clinical examination. After its removal, it is sent for anatomopathological diagnosis for diagnostic confirmation and evaluation of surgical margins, seeking complete resection of the lesion.
Treatment
Treatment is surgical, aiming to completely remove the lesion with free margins (oncological) both laterally and deeply.
In some types of more superficial injuries, they can be treated with photodynamic therapy or medication.
As this lesion does not metastasize, early medical treatment results in a cure in most cases. Therefore, early medical evaluation is very important.
Prevention
The best way to prevent it is to avoid sun exposure at certain times of the day (10am to 4pm), as well as protect yourself by using sunscreen and clothing/accessories, such as a hat, umbrella and sunglasses.
