It is true that a person with psoriasis will not get cancer. Are psoriasis patients insured against cancer? What do skin cancer and psoriasis have in common?

Currently, more and more people are faced with skin diseases, which bring a lot of troubles, ranging from aesthetic discomfort, pain and ending with psychological trauma. We are talking about psoriasis, a complex pathogenic mechanism of the disease, which manifests itself in a very unpleasant way - in the form of pink and red spots with. Symptoms of psoriasis can be confirmed by a dermatologist who has previously diagnosed the patient.

Still, there is a disturbing question: can psoriasis develop into skin cancer. It's time to look into this in more detail.

Both skin pathologies have common clinical disorders; there is a change in the process of epidermal cell division and a malfunction of the immune system. The main factors influencing the formation of malignant neoplasms on the skin and the development of psoriasis:

• microscopic skin injuries;
• radioactive radiation;
• ultraviolet irradiation.

Important! Psoriasis and cancer are diseases that are based on a hereditary predisposition and cannot transform from one to the other.

Unfortunately, people do not pay attention to cancerous tumors on the skin surface, so they often allow a progressive disease to develop into a severe form. Let's note the most common symptoms of cancer:

• a mole or birthmark increases in size and has an uneven shape;
• blurry pink or red edges appear on the mole;
• the site of the tumor is accompanied by itching;
• a mole or skin erosion appears;
• noticeable nodules or compactions on the surface of the skin;
• the spot becomes a tubercle, which is very vulnerable.

If a patient has psoriasis, identifying skin cancer is even more difficult. To distinguish skin diseases, a superficial examination is not enough; a medical examination is necessary.

Incompatibility: can psoriasis exclude the possibility of getting cancer?

The belief that people with psoriasis do not get cancer misleads a large number of people. This issue is vigorously discussed in online communities and forums. However, it is necessary to dispel the myth that psoriasis and cancer are incompatible: scientific research has proven the opposite.

To identify the connection between psoriasis and cancer, an experiment was conducted. A group of patients with psoriasis was formed, which included patients of different ages, smokers and non-smokers. One group was exposed to prolonged exposure to sunlight, while the other, on the contrary, avoided it.

However, after all participants underwent physiotherapy with ultraviolet therapy (from 100 to 250 irradiation sessions), the result showed interesting data. 5% of patients were subsequently diagnosed with skin cancer, 13% were diagnosed with solar keratosis, and 1% were diagnosed with cancer in other areas of the body: tongue, testicles, cervix, intestines.

Conclusion: cancer does not occur due to psoriatic pathology, but directly depends on the method of its treatment. Ultraviolet radiation can stimulate cancer cells, and some drugs can reduce immunity. People are divided on whether psoriasis and cancer are compatible. But, unfortunately, medicine has proven the possibility of two diagnoses occurring simultaneously.

Main types of disease

Psoriasis can be divided into several main types, which have the following features:

1. Red skin rashes. Appears at any age and is localized mainly on the knees, palms, lower back, thighs and genitals. The focus of the disease can move to the head, in the place.
2. Rashes on the skin in the form of drops. It appears slowly on the arms, legs and head.
3. Reverse type. A very difficult disease to treat that affects the groin, area under the breasts and armpits.
4. Seborrhea-type psoriasis. Flakes of keratinized skin form behind the ears, in the groin area and on the face. Practically untreatable.
5. Nail psoriasis. It affects the nails, deforms them in the process, changes color, then they peel off.
6. Erytoderma. A rare type of skin disease that affects the entire surface of the body.

How to distinguish psoriasis from cancer

Unlike cancer, the symptoms of psoriasis appear intensely on the skin at the time of exacerbation. If you pay attention to the first symptoms of a skin disease in time, it goes into remission. Most people think of psoriasis as a skin cancer, but there are significant differences:

1. Psoriatic spots have a clear outline.
2. Ulcerations can only appear when there is an infection.
3. Psoriasis is accompanied by elevated body temperature, and skin cancer appears against the background of normal health.
4. Chronic skin disease disrupts the functioning of the immune system; a person often gets sick.

Why do people confuse skin cancer with psoriasis? The fact is that some painful forms of the epidermis, for example, basilioma, look similar to psoriasis. At the initial stage of development, a nodule, compaction, flesh-colored or pink tubercle with noticeable peeling appears. In the center there is a cluster of capillaries on which erosion occurs.

Regarding other forms of cancer, the following can be said: they can also have a pinkish-red color with peeling of the skin crust. Therefore, people suffering from psoriasis often do not notice or do not attach importance to neoplasms.

Note! You cannot conduct an examination and diagnose yourself. Only a specialist can accurately determine the type of disease and prescribe a course of treatment.

Is it possible to avoid cancer with psoriasis?

We have already dealt with the question of whether people with psoriasis get cancer, and now it’s time to find out how to prevent it. Our skin constantly repels the attack of harmful environmental substances, this ability is called “skin capital”. Depending on the condition of the skin and influencing factors, the capital of the epidermis decreases and is no longer restored.

Here are some basic tips to help keep your skin healthy:

1. You should not spend a lot of time under the rays of the sun, especially when it is at its zenith, i.e. at the peak of ultraviolet exposure.
2. Using sunscreen will increase skin protection.
3. Regularly use moisturizing cosmetics that contain a complex of vitamins.
4. Try to avoid injury to the skin from cuts, scrapes and impacts.

However, health will depend not only on following the rules, but also on regular examination by a doctor and compliance with his recommendations. In case of exacerbation, treatment with ultraviolet irradiation and the use of glucocorticosteroid drugs are under no circumstances allowed.

Conclusion

Psoriasis does not cause cancer, but it does not exclude the possibility of its development. You should adhere to all skin care rules, pay attention to products that will replenish missing vitamins, increasing immunity.

No one is immune from sudden pathology, so do not forget to visit a dermatologist in order to take timely measures to prevent complications.

Medicine knows many diseases that can simultaneously “coexist” in the human body, or when one disease can cause the development of another disease.

Scientists have long been monitoring patients with psoriasis and trying to determine its compatibility with malignant tumors.

Psoriasis is considered one of the little-studied diseases. It is characterized by damage to the skin, the formation of single red spots on it, which can merge and cover large areas of the skin.

Scales form on the surface of the rash. They are a consequence of the rapid death of the epithelium with a slowdown in the rate of rupture of bonds between skin cells.

Layers with dead skin epithelium are layered on top of each other, forming compacted skin areas in the form of plaques. Psoriasis affects young people, and the incidence does not depend on their social status.

Types of psoriasis

Modern medicine knows several types of psoriasis, which differ in the nature of the rash and the location of the lesions on the human skin:

What is the relationship?

Experts have accumulated a lot of evidence that psoriasis, in addition to heart and vascular diseases, mental disorders, arthritis, and diabetes, can provoke the development of malignant tumors: skin and prostate cancer, lymphoma (neoplasm of lymphatic tissue).

According to research by Abbott Laboratories scientists, over two and a half years of observation of 37,000 psoriatic patients, 35% were diagnosed with cancer. Over the same period, in 110,000 patients without symptoms of psoriasis, cancer was detected in 23% of people.

Briefly about skin cancer

Skin cancer is a collective name that includes several types of malignant epithelial neoplasms. Mostly people over 60 years of age are affected.

What are the differences?

In differential diagnosis, the age of the patient and skin changes preceding the formation should be taken into account.

Skin scars and lesions of nevi (pigmented spots) precede the appearance of skin cancer and are not the cause of psoriatic disease.

The youth of psoriatic patients contrasts with the old age of patients with skin cancer.

For single rashes with peeling that appear on the face and areas of skin exposed to solar insolation, a more detailed examination of the skin formation is necessary. Taking fingerprint smears or biopsies followed by cytological and histological analyzes will resolve all issues.

Very important! At the first incomprehensible and unusual skin rashes, you should consult a doctor to differentiate the formations.

Treatment of a cancer risk factor

Modern medicine views psoriasis as a systemic disease with a complex mechanism of occurrence. Immune disorders and metabolic failures lead to trophic changes in the skin.

Treatment is carried out comprehensively, affecting all disturbed systems of the body and includes:

• Mandatory diet;
• Cleansing the body;
• Maintaining immunity;
• Local effect on affected skin;
• Psychological balance.

We should not forget about traditional methods of treatment and the use of natural products for psoriasis.

The medical news reported the results of observations of psoriasis patients receiving treatment with biological drugs (in particular: infliximab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, etanercept), non-biological agents (metatrexate, cyclosporine), as well as patients who used photo- and PUVA therapy. They are at high risk of developing skin cancer and lymphoma.

Suspicious skin formations

During and after treatment of psoriasis using the above methods, you should independently examine the skin to identify a suspicious formation.

This may be considered:

• Enlarged nevus (mole, birthmark);
• Changed color and shape of the entire formation or part of it;
• The appearance of dark dotted spots of skin around the nevus;
• A wound that does not heal for a long time.

The conclusions are not very reassuring and they require detailed study and additional research.

The only unconfirmed aspect is that psoriasis cannot turn into cancer.

Only the fact that determines the link between cancer and psoriatic disease remains clear. It can be considered the presence of a chronic inflammatory process in the human body.

There is more and more discussion about whether psoriasis can turn into skin cancer. People are concerned about this problem because the percentage of people developing malignant tumors is growing every day. Some are sure that cancer and lichen planus have nothing in common.

Others argue that due to lichen planus, there is a high probability of the formation of cancer cells. Whether this is true or not, patients and specialists themselves are trying to figure it out. Certain conclusions can be drawn now.

Features of psoriasis

Psoriasis is considered a multifactorial disease that can arise and recur under the influence of various provocateurs. The mechanism of lichen planus is complex, and it manifests itself in the form of redness and peeling on the surface of the skin.

Patients who have suffered from psoriasis understand perfectly well that it is completely impossible to cure the pathology. There are rare cases when it does not appear on the skin after restoration for many decades. But there are also situations when the patient regularly experiences relapses.

After reading various articles and listening to friends who are far from medicine, people begin to fear a diagnosis such as cancer.

Common features

If you study both diseases, psoriasis and skin cancer have some common features. They occur when the process of division and growth of epidermal cells is disrupted.

A malignant tumor is capable of penetrating neighboring tissues and is prone to forming metastases. Provocateurs of cancer development also affect the manifestations of lichen planus. We are talking about the following factors:

• ultraviolet irradiation;
• microtraumas;
• radioactive radiation.

In both cases, in psoriasis and cancer, the hereditary factor, that is, genetic predisposition, plays an important role.

But it is important to remember that psoriasis and cancer are incompatible. That is, one pathology cannot flow into another. Here the matter is different, which is why some assume that one disease transforms into another.

All kinds of changes on the skin rarely cause fear or anxiety in a person. The patient considers them to be simple allergic manifestations, scratches or other harmless phenomena.

But here you need to be careful and respond in a timely manner to the primary manifestations of oncological pathology. Initial symptoms appear as:

• itching;
• peeling;
• erosive areas or moles;
• blurred edges on moles;
• nodules;
• seals on the skin;
• spots that rise above the skin have a crust and are easily injured.

When a person already has lichen planus, it is difficult to identify oncology against its background. Even those who carefully monitor the skin and care during exacerbations cannot say for sure whether this is a plaque or whether the process of developing a malignant tumor has begun here.

Practice shows that skin cancer is often detected by chance when the patient comes with complaints of other problems. This indicates the need to periodically visit a dermatologist. It is almost impossible to identify epidermal oncology on your own without a special examination.

Cancer rules out psoriasis

There is such a strong opinion that there is no cancer with psoriasis. That is, the diseases are mutually exclusive.

Almost all patients would agree with this, since it is better to suffer from lichen planus than from oncological pathology.

They actively write on the Internet that people with psoriasis do not get cancer. But during clinical studies, experts refuted this theory. Here the situation is different, since people with psoriasis are at risk and are potentially susceptible to cancer.

It's not about the scaly lichen itself. Studies conducted in other countries have revealed a connection between oncology and chronic dermatosis. It is important to note that it is not psoriasis itself that causes cancer, but rather those treatment methods that are actively used in the fight against psoriatic plaques.

Scientific research results

Foreign experts have recently conducted a number of studies aimed at identifying relationships between diseases and tried to answer the question of whether oncology is compatible with lichen planus. The results were not the most pleasant, but they provided serious food for thought.

Dozens of patients who were diagnosed with psoriasis took part in the tests. To analyze the results of the study, a detailed medical history was first collected. The group of subjects included people of different genders and ages; some had bad habits, others did not.

Some people were actively exposed to the sun, that is, they used the current simple method of influencing psoriatic plaques. Another group avoided being in the sun. All patients underwent physiotherapy sessions using ultraviolet light. Their number ranged from 100 to 250.

The results showed that only a little more than 4% of patients subsequently encountered skin cancer. In 1%, cancer was detected in other locations, such as the tongue, intestines, etc.

This study proves an important point. The development of skin cancer in psoriasis is influenced not by lichen planus itself, but by therapy using ultraviolet irradiation. That is why it is important to approach this carefully and select the dosage of radiation.

Exposure to regular sunlight for a long time brings a similar result. Although with dosed radiation and tanning you can get significant benefits. This suggests that ultraviolet radiation is equally beneficial and destructive.

Important Differences

As you understand, psoriasis turning into oncological pathology is a probable situation. Although the percentage of such transformations is insignificant. It all depends on the patient himself, who will adhere to the rules of therapy.

There are certain differences that make it possible to differentiate psoriasis from cancer and vice versa. This way, the patient will be able to seek help from a dermatologist in a timely manner and not panic ahead of time.

Yes, some types of cancer tumors have symptoms similar to lichen planus. This causes the greatest problems, since patients cannot identify more dangerous neoplasms against the background of ordinary psoriatic plaques. Therefore, it is important that a dermatologist is constantly in contact with patients.

Periodic examinations of the skin will help monitor the course of the disease, notice the addition of secondary infections in time and diagnose malignant neoplasms. Although the likelihood of the latter is not so high.

Ways to prevent cancer

In medicine and dermatology, the concept of skin capital is actively used. This is the ability of the skin to protect itself from the harmful effects of dangerous external factors.

A number of provoking phenomena lead to a noticeable decrease in skin capital. There are no methods yet that can restore it. Moreover, in the course of research it was discovered that the largest capital is in people with dark and dark skin, and the smallest in blond and red-haired people with light skin.

The following tips are relevant not only for people with psoriasis, but also for those who want to keep the epidermis in good healthy condition for many years or even their entire lives. Plus, not everyone knows about their predisposition to lichen planus. If psoriasis has not appeared until now, this does not guarantee that it cannot appear in the future.

• don't stay for a long time;
• use umbrellas and protective creams on the beaches;
• try to completely avoid being under the sun during the daytime in the summer;
• even if you are not on the beach, but it is very hot and sunny outside, apply protective products to exposed parts of the body;
• train yourself to moisturize and nourish your skin with special care products based on natural ingredients;
• try to minimize injury;
• Observe basic rules of personal hygiene.

It is important to understand that in psoriasis, a drug can be a provocateur for the development of cancer. Many drugs have the potential to cause cancer as a side effect.

This applies to a greater extent to potent drugs, hormonal and glucocorticosteroid drugs. Before using them, carefully study the instructions, contraindications, and possible side effects. If you are not satisfied with the list of medications prescribed by a dermatologist, you have every right to refuse it and request a different regimen.

Although ultraviolet irradiation is effective in the fight against psoriatic plaques, itching and redness, it should not be abused. Especially for those people who belong to the group of patients with small skin capital. There are a number of other safer and no less capable of helping to transfer scaly lichen into a state of long-term stable remission.

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Can psoriasis and cancer coexist in the body of one person? Scientists are still fiercely debating this compatibility. Many argue that a common skin disease is a kind of protective agent against cancer, so psoriasis and cancer are incompatible. Others insist that psoriasis plaques can develop into a tumor if the disease is not given enough attention. So which of the statements is true, and should we be afraid that psoriasis can really lead to such a serious diagnosis?

Briefly about diseases

Psoriasis is a non-infectious pathology in the form of peeling skin and the appearance of rashes on it. Its main feature is that with psoriasis it is impossible to completely get rid of the disease, since sooner or later it will make itself felt again. The disease can affect both individual parts of the body and its entire surface.

Psoriasis most often affects the younger generation.

Psoriasis can have the following types:

• Plaque type. It looks like white-gray plaques with scales that affect the knees and elbows in the folds, and also appear on the scalp where there is hair, seen on the genitals.
• Drop-shaped appearance. These are water droplet-shaped spots that primarily affect the legs, but can affect other parts of the body.
• Reverse variety. These are smooth (sometimes flaky) patches in the folds of the skin.
• Pustular type. They look like standard blisters, with the skin swelling and peeling off easily. It mainly affects the palms or soles.
• Arthropathic type. It affects any joints, and the skin in these places becomes inflamed, and the joints may be limited in movement.
• Erythrodermic variety. The affected areas are itchy, swollen and painful at the same time. Can be localized throughout the skin.
• Nail type. This is a separate subtype of the disease, when the nail plate changes its color (mostly to dirty yellow), collapses and thickens.

Skin cancer is a malignant tumor caused by impaired cell transformation. Develops mainly in older people. Also divided into several subspecies:

1. basalioma;
2. adenocarcinoma;
3. squamous;
4. melanoma.

The first type is localized on the face. This is the safest type of tumor because it increases in size over many years. Most often it does not metastasize. Usually this is a single inflammation in the form of half a ball of a grayish tint with a slight sheen. The neoplasm is smooth on top, but scales can be felt in the center, which bleed when opened.

The second type of disease is a rare subtype of cancer that appears in the area of ​​large accumulation of sebaceous glands (armpits, areas under the breasts). Outwardly it looks like a small nodule. At first it develops slowly, but without proper treatment it begins to grow and metastasize faster. Tissues can be affected down to the muscles.

The third type looks like a nodule, which in its structure is very similar to cauliflower with a reddish hue. May peel and crust over. Grows quickly and forms metastases. Affects areas of the skin that are directly exposed to sunlight.

Melanoma appears on the skin where there is melanin (freckles or moles). The primary neoplasm can take on any color, itch, swell and swell. This is the most dangerous subtype, since melanoma quickly increases in size and metastasizes.

Compatibility issue

Can psoriasis turn into skin cancer? To study this issue, doctors, together with scientists from all countries, conducted more than one study. For a long time, there was an opinion that people with psoriasis do not get cancer. Some reports even indicated the positive effect of skin disease on oncology. At that time, it was believed that psoriasis prevents the formation of cancer.

However, not so long ago, American scientists conducted a series of experiments and were able to prove that the skin disease can cause a number of other ailments. They emphasized that psoriasis can provoke the development of malignant tumors, including skin cancer, and in more rare cases, cancer of other parts of the body. For example, lichen planus leads to the development of neoplasms in more than 50% of cases.

Scientists conducted studies on volunteers with psoriasis. For a long time, they collected data on their treatment methods and the subjects’ lifestyle. Among the patients, both smokers and non-smokers were observed, half of them were exposed to ultraviolet radiation, others were deprived of this procedure.

As a result, scientists established the following facts:

• 5% were diagnosed with skin cancer;
• 13% have solar keratosis;
• 2% have cancer of another type (lymphatic tissues and prostate).

Psoriasis is not a tumor, so it cannot turn into cancer. But he can provoke its appearance.

Explanation of the development of cancer against the background of psoriasis

First of all, during the treatment of psoriasis, treatment methods can be used that harm the human immune system and subsequently cause cancer. This most often occurs while taking immunosuppressants or immunosuppressants. This group of drugs is recognized to treat lichen planus, but if the drug is not selected correctly, such drugs cause carcinomas (cancer, malignant tumor).

Phototherapy also has a negative effect on the body. This procedure treats psoriasis by exposing the inflammation to direct sunlight. Now all inflammations on the body are irradiated using ultraviolet lamps. To treat more complex types, phototherapy using Psoralen is used. This is a remedy against skin depigmentation. This drug enhances the effect of the procedure, but at the same time it increases the risk of not only the formation of cancerous tumors, but also a number of other diseases (including damage to the eyes and vision).

In addition, the risk of cancer increases if you have a large number of plaques or other rashes on the skin. It is problematic and difficult to treat each area separately, so along with psoriatic manifestations, healthy areas of the skin are also exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

If you undergo rehabilitation with a good specialist, then before using phototherapy he will conduct a series of lengthy diagnostic studies and find out whether the patient can undergo this procedure.

Phototherapy cannot be compatible with the following characteristics of the body:

1. the patient has already been diagnosed with cancer;
2. with renal failure;
3. for heart problems;
4. high sensitivity to light;
5. atherosclerosis in any manifestations;
6. connective tissue pathologies;
7. mental disorders;
8. tuberculosis.

How to distinguish and what to do?

In some cases, the symptoms of psoriasis and cancer may be similar, therefore, to accurately confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a biochemical analysis of the affected area of ​​the body, and from several sides. Particularly similar are skin diseases and lymphoma (a tumor of the epidermis that occurs as a result of malignant proliferation of lymphocytes). In the first stages, they have the same symptoms: itching, scabies, peeling and causalgia (unbearable pain that increases with each attack).

These pathologies can be preliminarily identified as follows:

• Psoriasis quickly appears on the skin and also quickly disappears with proper treatment.
• The plaques have a clear and clearly visible outline.
• Psoriatic inflammation is often accompanied by poor health and high body temperature, and cancer does not cause any additional symptoms, so the patient feels well.
• Since psoriasis significantly reduces the immune system, a person is more likely to get various respiratory diseases (colds).

You cannot diagnose yourself, because only laboratory tests can tell you the exact name of the disease.

Reasons for concern

You should immediately consult a doctor for a second test if a person notices the following symptoms:

1. a birthmark or mole becomes noticeably larger, and new growths of a dark shade have appeared in such an area;
2. dark spots have formed around the mole;
3. Even minor scratches on the skin take a long time to heal.

Therefore, psoriasis, if it causes cancer, is only in extremely rare cases, and this is provoked by instability of the human immune system after psoriasis therapy. To minimize the risk of cancer, you just need to follow the simple rules known to everyone. For example, do not spend a long time in the sun, especially in hot weather and during the sun itself.

You should use a variety of sunscreens on exposed skin, especially the face. Apply various moisturizing cosmetics daily. Avoid mechanical damage to the skin, and if you do damage it, carefully treat the affected area. It is imperative to visit the doctor regularly, and during treatment the patient must follow all the rules and instructions of the doctor.

Many people suffering from psoriatic rashes worry whether psoriasis can develop into cancer and how psoriasis and cancer are related to each other. The opinion of scientists involved in the research of skin diseases is still not unanimous. However, most studies do not support the theory that cancer is common in psoriasis. There may be oncological lesions of the skin during illness, but most often these diseases are not related to each other.

Types of psoriasis

At its core, psoriasis is a chronic disease. For various reasons, patients develop pink or red spots with a keratinized surface and scales. Often, skin formations appear in the form of red, bubbly blisters. Papules or plaques may change their color and shape. And although the main organ that takes the brunt of the disease is the skin, other parts of the body can also be affected. Most often these are nails and joints. The color of the nails changes their natural shade, and the joints affected by the disease begin to become deformed and painful.

There are such forms of psoriasis:

1. Spot-like. Most often it is located on the scalp, in the lumbar region, on the elbows and knees, in the intimate area.
2. Seborrheic. Favorite locations are behind the shoulder blades, in the ear area or in the groin. The disease is very difficult to treat.
3. Teardrop-shaped. The main areas are the head, arms and knees.
4. Nail.
5. Erythroderma psoriatic. It has serious consequences and spreads to all parts of the body.
6. Pustular.
7. Various forms of psoriasis arthritis.

According to the level of severity, the disease is classified into the following types:

• A mild form of the disease, the lesion spreads to 3-4% of the skin.
• Moderate form, when psoriatic plaques affect no more than 10% of the epidermis.
• More than 10% of the body surface area affected by the disease is considered severe.

Treatment methods for psoriasis directly depend on the type diagnosed, the severity of the disease and should only be recommended by a doctor.

Symptoms of cancerous tumors on the skin

There are several types of skin cancer, in particular:

1. Melanoma is a rare but most severe form of cancer. If treatment is not started in the early stages, the patient may die within a few months. Malignant formations look like a mole that itches, hurts, bleeds and changes color.
2. Squamous. Cancer cells of this type of disease are very aggressive and can lead to rapid death. A sign of squamous cell skin cancer is a growing red or white patch that may peel off.
3. Basal cell. It is considered the most common type of cancer. Does not spread metastases to other organs. It is considered a non-life-threatening form. The appearance of malignant lesions of the basal cell type resembles a small bleeding wound that does not heal for a long time.

Only a qualified doctor can determine whether any skin lesions are oncology or symptoms of severe psoriasis.

What do skin cancer and psoriasis have in common?

A common feature of psoriasis and skin cancer is that both diseases are accompanied by serious disorders of the human immune system and a failure of the process of cell division. Many negative internal and external factors that influence the appearance of psoriasis can also provoke skin cancer. Doctors include these factors:

• psoriatic plaques can be caused by prolonged aggressive exposure to sunlight;
• radiation exposure;
• microtraumas of the epidermis, which under certain conditions cause inflammatory lesions.

Can psoriasis turn into skin cancer?

Many patients with skin problems do not believe that psoriasis and cancer are incompatible.

Cancer with psoriasis does not threaten patients for the reason that psoriatic lesions do not relate to pathologies associated with the growth of tumors. Without certain circumstances, the problem does not tend to develop into oncology. These are two different diseases, but nevertheless, they can arise in the body of one person and develop independently of each other.

However, doctors are hesitant to definitively guarantee that psoriasis cannot develop into cancer. Some of the treatments cause the growth of malignant cells. Fortunately, such cases are extremely rare, and they are provoked by the unstable immunity of patients after treatment. This is why there is no cancer with psoriasis.

Despite ongoing research, the amount of evidence for such incompatibility has not yet reached a qualitative level. But some relationship between diseases still exists. It has been proven that improperly selected medications and various physical procedures provoke skin cancer. They harm the human immune system and can subsequently cause cancer. For example, lymphoma can appear as a result of a person’s weakened immune system, when the body does not have the strength to resist the growth of malignant cells.

Phototherapy and its effect on the body

The method is based on the effect of ultraviolet rays on the body. According to some information, this method of treatment was used in Ancient Greece. Nowadays, ultraviolet lamps are used in medicine for the treatment of psoriatic plaques, the exposure of which is strictly limited for the safety of patients. However, it is the phototherapy technique that is the factor that can provoke skin cancer.

This rather unsafe procedure is carried out only after carefully weighing all the pros and cons. The doctor takes into account whether the patient has diagnosed cancer, conducts a number of laboratory tests, and collects complete information about the occurrence and course of the pathology.

Phototherapy cannot be performed in the following cases:

• when there are already oncological problems;
• a patient with skin problems is diagnosed with chronic renal failure;
• there are problems with cardiovascular activity;
• the doctor discovered atherosclerosis or connective tissue disease in the patient;
• the patient suffers from tuberculosis;
• The patient experiences increased bleeding.

A doctor treating psoriatic rashes must carefully study the patient’s entire previous test base. It will help indicate whether the patient has or does not have an increased risk of developing cancer.

Is it possible to prevent cancer in psoriasis?

In isolated cases, psoriatic skin lesions can cause cancer. The following reasons contribute to this situation:

1. Medicines used in therapy. Some creams, ointments and tablets significantly increase the likelihood of tumor formation. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully study information about all pharmacological agents that are used for treatment.
2. In many cases, phototherapy also increases the risk.

In addition, it is necessary to avoid prolonged exposure to sunny places; in the hot summer, be sure to use sunscreens, moisturizing cosmetics, and try to avoid injury to the skin.

Psoriasis is a serious autoimmune disease that requires immediate treatment. Any suspicious skin rash is a good reason to consult a dermatologist. In order not to have to eliminate serious consequences, treatment should be prescribed only by a specialist and take place under his constant supervision.