Skin cancer in children

The typical forms of skin cancer that occur in adulthood are very rarely found in children. In most cases, skin cancer which occurs in childhood is benign. Nevertheless, malignant skin cancers can also occur in childhood.

As with all skin tumors, moles and liver spots should be closely observed and a doctor should be consulted if changes in the moles occur. The so-called melanomas usually do not appear until puberty. It is important to note, however, that precautionary measures which can prevent the development of melanomas, such as the use of sunscreen, are already useful in childhood.So melanomas can develop in puberty or in adulthood which are due to a high UV exposure in childhood.

More often, however, malignant skin tumors develop in children on the basis of skin changes that have a genetic origin. Thus, skin changes of genetic origin can be a risk for the development of malignant skin cancers. For children and adolescents, too, general risk factors such as a light skin type and high UV exposure are considered the main causes of skin cancer. Particularly with young people it comes in the last years by a generally too careless behavior in relation to UV-RADIATION heaped to the emergence of malicious skin cancer.

Summary

Skin cancer is the term used to describe various forms of malignant neoplasm on the skin. These include the skin cancer types “basalioma“, “spinalioma” and “malignant melanoma“, which show different clinical pictures. The diagnosis of “skin cancer” is made on the one hand on the basis of this picture and on the other hand by microscopic examination of the change.

Skin cancer is primarily treated by excision. Depending on the stage and type of skin cancer, other treatment options are available.

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