Squamous cell carcinoma in situ
Is Bowen's disease serious?
Bowen's disease itself isn't usually serious. It tends to grow very slowly over months or years, and there are several very effective treatments for it.
The concern is that Bowen's disease can eventually develop into a differenttype of skin cancer called Squamous cell carcinoma if it's left undiagnosed or neglected.
It's estimated this happens in up to 1 in 20 to 1 in 30 people with untreated Bowen's disease.
Squamous cell skin cancer is often treatable, butit canspread deeper into the body and is sometimesvery serious.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out about the symptoms, causes and treatments for Bowen's disease, a very early and easily treatable form of skin cancer.
Is Bowen's disease serious?
Bowen's disease itself isn't usually serious. It tends to grow very slowly over months or years, and there are several very effective treatments for it. The concern is that Bowen's disease can eventu
Symptoms of Bowen's disease
Bowen's disease usually appears as a patch on the skin that has clear edges and doesn't heal. Some people have more than one patch. The patch may be: red or pink scaly or crusty flat or raised
When to get medical advice
See your GP if you have a persistent red, scaly patch of skin and don't know the cause. It's important to get a proper diagnosis, as Bowen's disease can look like other conditions, such as psoriasis
Causes of Bowen's disease
Bowen's disease usually affects older people in their 60s and 70s. The exact cause is unclear, but it has been closely linked with: long-term exposure to the sun or use of sunbeds especially in p
Treatments for Bowen's disease
There are a number of treatment options for Bowen's disease.Talk to your dermatologist about which treatment is most suitable for you. The main treatments are: cryotherapy liquid nitrogen is spra
Looking after your skin after treatment
After treatment, you may need follow-up appointmentswith your dermatologist or GP to see if you need any further treatment. If you had surgery, youmay need to haveany stitches removed at your GP surg
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