Treatment of Bowen's Disease

How to Treat Bowen's Disease

Topical medications are now available which can be applied onto Bowen's disease. These topical medications like Efudex cream, 5 Fluouracil, and Imiquimod , are available via a prescription and useful for very superficial Bowen's disease. They may have a role when the Bowen's disease is growing close to delicate structures of the face. These topical medications work by irritating and killing the tumor cells. However, the role of topical treatments is not widely accepted and needs to be done under the guidance of a dermatologist.

Any patient who has been diagnosed with Bowen's disease should understand that this is an early form of cancer. If Bowen's disease is not treated, it will develop into a full blown Squamous cell carcinoma. When the Bowen's disease is treated, the prognosis is excellent.

Prevention

Like all skin cancers, Bowen's disease can be prevented by undertaking the following steps:

Excessive exposure to sun must be avoided if one wants to prevent Bowen's disease. Sun is always strongest in intensity from 10 am to 3 pm and one should avoid going out during this time period. Unless one has a job which requires going out during this time period, all outdoor activities should be scheduled outside these hours.

Sunscreens are a must for individuals who seek the sun. There are broad spectrum sun screens available today that can block out most UV rays of the sun. A sunscreen with a SPF of at least 20 is recommended. The sunscreen should be applied about 30 minutes prior to going out and then reapplied every 2-3 hours. The sunscreen should be reapplied after a swim or exercise. However, one should never rely on sun screen as the only measure of preventing skin cancer.

Because there is no sunscreen which can completely protect against skin cancer, it is highly recommended that one wear appropriate clothing. Besides a hat and sunglasses, one should wear protective clothing. Today, there are fabrics which have been designed to block UV rays of the sun.

There are many medications which can cause adverse skin reactions when exposed to sunlight. Speak to your health care worker about the side effects of any medications that you are taking. If you do take a medication that can cause phototoxicity, avoid going out in the sun.

If you have had a history of Bowen's disease then it is imperative that you get regular check ups from a health care worker. It is essential to have all the sun exposed areas checked at least once a year.

References

Arbesman H, Ransohoff DF. Is Bowen's disease a predictor for the development of internal malignancy? A methodological critique of the literature. JAMA. Jan 23- 30 1987;257(4):516-8.