Skin Tumour - Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Skin tumours are a common group of dermatoses that people of tropical regions or the white race often encounter. A skin tumour may appear as a strange mark or lump on or beneath your skin. Various types of tumours can be treated in different ways or sometimes require no treatment at all.

Therefore, detailed learning about tumours, symptoms and treatments can help you understand if you need to seek proper medical help.

A skin tumour is a strange area or development of tissue over or under the skin that can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Non-cancerous (benign) tumours are not life-threatening as they do not spread to other parts or organs of your body. They generally do not need any treatment but are removed in some cases. However, if you are diagnosed with cancerous skin tumours, then you must undergo proper medical treatment.

Skin tumours can occur to anyone disregarding men, women and children. Few types occur at an early age, and in some cases, it becomes pervasive as people get older. The risk is higher for people having the following factors:

• People of tropical and developing countries
• Individuals having a genetic history of skin tumours
• People from the white race if overexposed to the bright sun

Skin tumours have majorly 2 categories, which are non-cancerous and cancerous. Sometimes people are diagnosed with tumours under the skin, also called skin cysts. These are closed pouches of tissues filled with water or other substances. The majority of skin tumours and cysts are non-cancerous or benign tumours.

Both non-cancerous and cancerous tumours have further classifications. Here are some common types:

Types of Benign (Non-cancerous) Tumour

• Hemangioma: A hemangioma can occur at any age. It appears as a bright red rubbery lump caused by abnormal accumulation of extra blood vessels of your skin. Initially, this skin tumour is small mole-like size but can increase or disappear on its own. Doctors generally use lesser treatment or steroid injections to treat it.
• Seborrheic Keratosis: Seborrheic Keratosis is one of the most common types, typically seen in mid-aged and older-aged adults. This appears in various colours, from light brown to black and is rubbery and raised from the skin surface. The common areas where it grows are the face, neck, back and chest, but can develop in other places as well. This tumour is harmless and mostly treated as a skin concern.
• Dermatofibroma: Dermatofibromais caused by folliculitis, minor injury or insect bite. It also can be found in patients having an autoimmune disorder. This appears as a small hard lump, varying from pink to brown, in colour, on the arms and legs. This skin tumour does not need any removal if it does not cause any symptoms. Medical experts use surgical excision or cryosurgery for the removal process.
• Sebaceous Hyperplasia: This usually appears on your face, especially on the cheeks, nose and forehead as a raised dome-shaped yellow bump. Sometimes it has a dip in the centre. Although it is a benign tumour, it is often confused with a basal cell carcinoma and needs to be distinguished by a biopsy.
• Mole: A mole, also called nevus or melanocytic nevus, is a round, pink or brown bump or spot with a smooth border. It may appear at any stage of your life. Melanocytes, or skin cells producing the skin-darkening pigment called melanin, cause moles. It is a prevalent skin tumour type and almost every person has at least one. In most cases, professionals treat it less as a dermatological concern. However, if a mole starts rapidly increasing in size or bleeds, crusts and changes colour, then it indicates skin cancer.
• Keratinous and Pilar Cysts: Keratinous and Pilar Cysts are tumours under the skin caused by an abnormal buildup of skin substances like water, fat, fibre etc., including protein (keratin). They can be found anywhere in your body and do not usually cause any symptoms. Doctors recommend removal by surgical excision or incision if they start growing or causing other symptoms.
• Cherry Angioma: It is a small, benign, raised or flat red vascular spot that is very common. This tumour is harmless and often considered a skin concern. Although it does not need any treatment, a lesser treatment can remove it easily.
• Actinic Keratosis: This tumour is common in people above 40 years of age, mainly on the skin areas experiencing excessive sun exposure. It appears as a rough plaque on the skin with a scaly texture. It is a benign type of tumour, but leaving untreated and continuously exposed to the sun leads to a 5% to 10% risk of this turning into a skin cancer like squamous cell carcinoma.
• Lipoma: Lipomas are found beneath the skin at any part of your body where fat cells are present. This skin tumour occurs due to the accumulation of fat cells. Most of the time, health professionals recognise it as a non-harmful, soft tissue tumour. But if it grows in size (over 5 cm), it may cause discomfort and needs clinical advice.

Types of Malignant (Cancerous) Tumour

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: It is one of the most common types of tumours that cause most cancer-related deaths. Squamous Cell Carcinoma originated in the flat cells of the outer skin layer or epidermis. This cancer grows rapidly and can be fatal if left untreated. It causes signs, such as irregular or persisting scaly patches and wart-like growths, raised growth that sometimes may bleed and open sores that never heals.
• Basal Cell Carcinoma: It is the most fatal and common cancer that causes death. Basal Cell Carcinoma occurs mostly on the skin areas exposed under bright sunlight face, neck, head or scalp. It originates in the basal cell layer of the epidermis and can appear in many forms like rough, scaly open sores that do not heal, red patches or waxy scar marks, shiny nodules etc.
• Melanoma: Melanoma is rarer among these types of cancerous tumours but is not any less harmful. This skin tumours can invade other parts of your body if left untreated. A mole rapidly increasing its size, shape or colour can be a signal to this cancer.

Skin tumours are typically visible on the skin or are evident to the touch when they occur. A benign tumour does not cause any symptoms and harm to you. Therefore, its appearance does not create any fear. However, while turning into malignant, it causes skin tumour symptoms that you must consider as a warning. A cancerous tumour rings the alarm with symptoms such as:

• Rapidly changing shape and increasing size.
• Spreading over the nearby areas on your skin.
• Changing its colour or getting darker.
• Scabbing bleeding sore that never heals.
• Persisting pain and itches.
• Turning into an uneven border of a mole.

Medical experts could not explain or describe any particular reason for skin tumour development. In most cases, reasons like exposure to bright sun, minor skin trauma such as scare or insect bite, underlying conditions such as autoimmune disorder or family history of skin tumours can commonly cause skin tumours.

Most skin tumours are usually benign and need treatment only when it causes severe symptoms like pain or discomfort. Individuals can opt for dermatological treatments such as a laser, steroid or medical incision for a benign skin tumors. Conversely, a cancerous tumour requires treatments that involve complex surgeries or radiotherapy. Below are mentioned some of the treatments:

Laser Treatment

This emits a single wavelength of light stimulated into a high-intensity and narrow light beam to go deep into the human tissue and heal a benign tumour.

Curettage and Electrodesiccation

This is another process to treat a benign tumour by scraping away the tumour tissues from the skin with a scrapper and stopping blood loss with the help of an electrosurgical unit.

Surgical Excision

Doctors cut out the tumour tissue and some adjacent normal tissues in this process.

Cryosurgery or Cryotherapy

Medical experts spray liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide onto the skin to freeze and destroy the abnormal tissues.

Radiotherapy

Professionals use radiotherapy or radiation therapy to treat the area of cancer. An external beam of high-intensity light is emitted from a machine, destroying the cancer cells spreading over your body or stopping them from spreading.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is another way to treat a cancerous skin tumour. It uses drugs that are injected into your vein or taken by mouth as pills. These drugs travel through the bloodstream and destroy cancer cells, spreading beyond your skin.

Preventing skin tumours involves easy actions, such as -

• Do not expose yourself and newborns to the scorching sun.
• Cover up your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin and do not get tanned.
• Use a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen generously.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds.
• See a dermatologist whenever any abnormal area appears on our skin.
• Undergo regular examinations if you have any moles or spots.

A skin tumour most of the time does not cause any harm to you. However, you never sit back and take things casually if it causes symptoms like discomfort, irritation, bleeding or scaling. Seek a doctor's help whenever your tumour alarms you.