2 posts tagged with "Skin cancer"

Dermatology encompasses a broad spectrum of diseases, yet there remains a disproportionate focus on malignant conditions such as melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. This narrow approach overlooks the significant global burden of other dermatological conditions, which vastly outnumber malignant diseases.

Melanoma is a very important disease to consider. No one is denying that. It is a malignant disease with a high mortality rate. However, understanding the actual prevalence of dermatological conditions is crucial.

Actual Prevalence of Dermatological Conditions​

Although malignancies are often highlighted in dermatology, they represent only a small fraction of the total dermatological conditions. The following pie chart illustrates the distribution of various dermatological diseases:

Let's break down these categories to understand their significance and the need for comprehensive coverage in dermatology.

Infectious Diseases (57%)​

Infectious skin diseases represent the largest category globally, comprising approximately 57% of dermatological conditions. Fungal infections alone constitute around 34%, bacterial infections around 23%, and viral infections like herpes zoster and genital warts contribute significantly as well¹.

Detected conditions (Top-5)

1. Impetigo77.53%
2. Cutaneous leishmaniasis1.95%
3. Bullous impetigo1.03%
4. Furuncle0.59%
5. Tinea faciei0.48%

---

• Impetigo
• Cutaneous leishmaniasis
• Bullous impetigo
• Furuncle
• Tinea faciei
• Other

Probability

0102030405060708090100

Legit.Health addresses this need by providing comprehensive coverage for infectious skin diseases, including viral infections such as herpes zoster and genital warts, bacterial infections such as impetigo, and fungal infections such as candidiasis, among many others.

Other Conditions (19%)​

Conditions like acne vulgaris, alopecia areata, and urticaria constitute a substantial portion of dermatological conditions, approximately 19%, significantly affecting quality of life and psychological wellbeing².

Detected conditions (Top-5)

1. Acne56.62%
2. Malassezia folliculitis7.14%
3. Seborrheic dermatitis1.79%
4. Rosacea1.02%
5. Eczematous dermatitis0.98%

---

• Acne
• Malassezia folliculitis
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Rosacea
• Eczematous dermatitis
• Other

Probability

0102030405060708090100

Legit.Health also covers a wide range of other dermatological conditions, including acne, alopecia, and urticaria, ensuring comprehensive care for patients with these common yet impactful diseases.

Inflammatory Diseases (15%)​

Conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa are prevalent, affecting millions worldwide.

Psoriasis alone affects approximately 2-4% of the global population, while dermatitis has a lifetime prevalence of up to 30%³.

Detected conditions (Top-5)

1. Generalised pustular psoriasis77.03%
2. Pustular psoriasis2.31%
3. Pemphigus0.95%
4. Zoster0.48%
5. Cutaneous tuberculosis0.48%

---

• Generalised pustular psoriasis
• Pustular psoriasis
• Pemphigus
• Zoster
• Cutaneous tuberculosis
• Other

Probability

0102030405060708090100

As well as the common inflammatory skin diseases, Legit.Health also provides coverage for rare diseases and severe conditions such as generalized pustular psoriasis, ensuring that patients with these debilitating diseases receive the care they need.

Malignant Diseases (5%)​

Despite the high public profile of malignant skin diseases due to their severity, these conditions constitute a smaller fraction of dermatological diseases (about 5%). Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) make up the majority of skin cancers, while melanoma, though aggressive, remains relatively less common⁴.

Detected conditions (Top-5)

1. Cutaneous melanoma47.7%
2. Basal cell carcinoma1.24%
3. Intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma0.41%
4. Lymphatic malformation0.36%
5. Plane warts0.36%

---

• Cutaneous melanoma
• Basal cell carcinoma
• Intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma
• Lymphatic malformation
• Plane warts
• Other

Probability

0102030405060708090100

Autoimmune Diseases (3%)​

Autoimmune skin conditions like cutaneous lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, and bullous diseases, although severe, collectively make up approximately 3% of dermatological cases⁵.

Detected conditions (Top-5)

1. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus50.11%
2. Necrobiosis lipoidica1.42%
3. Dermatosis neglecta1.26%
4. Cutaneous tuberculosis1.14%
5. Benign familial pemphigus1.03%

---

• Cutaneous lupus erythematosus
• Necrobiosis lipoidica
• Dermatosis neglecta
• Cutaneous tuberculosis
• Benign familial pemphigus
• Other

Probability

0102030405060708090100

Genodermatoses (1%)​

These rare genetic disorders, including epidermolysis bullosa and ichthyosis, constitute less than 1% of skin conditions, yet require significant clinical attention due to their chronic and debilitating nature⁶.

Legit.Health provides coverage for many rare genetic conditions, ensuring that patients with epidermolysis bullosa and other genodermatoses receive the specialized care they need.

Vascular Diseases (1%)​

Vascular conditions such as hemangiomas and vascular malformations represent around 1% of dermatological diseases. Although often benign, they can cause significant functional and cosmetic issues⁷.

Detected conditions (Top-5)

1. Haemangioma85.87%
2. Infantile papular acrodermatitis0.22%
3. Zoster0.19%
4. Epidermal nevus0.17%
5. Angioma0.17%

---

• Haemangioma
• Infantile papular acrodermatitis
• Zoster
• Epidermal nevus
• Angioma
• Other

Probability

0102030405060708090100

Legit.Health also covers vascular conditions, including those affecting infants, ensuring comprehensive care for patients with these conditions.

Should You Only Focus on Malignancy?​

Focusing primarily on malignancy neglects the vast majority of patients suffering from other conditions. While malignant diseases are severe and require attention, chronic inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune diseases significantly impact citizens' quality of life, productivity, and psychological health. Resource allocation, research funding, and public awareness campaigns should thus reflect the broader spectrum of dermatological diseases to effectively improve overall patient care.

In conclusion, while malignancy warrants attention due to its severity and potentially fatal outcomes, the bulk of dermatological conditions—and thus the bulk of dermatology practice—lies elsewhere. A broader view of dermatology that includes infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, genetic, vascular, and other conditions is crucial for meeting the comprehensive healthcare needs of patients worldwide.

References​

Footnotes​

1. Karimkhani, C., et al. "Global Skin Disease Morbidity and Mortality: An Update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013." JAMA Dermatology 153.5 (2017): 406-412. ↩

2. Tan, J.K.L., Bhate, K. "A global perspective on the epidemiology of acne." British Journal of Dermatology 172.Suppl 1 (2015): 3-12. ↩

3. Weidinger, S., Novak, N. "Atopic dermatitis." Lancet 387.10023 (2016): 1109-1122. ↩

4. Leiter, U., et al. "Epidemiology of skin cancer." Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 35.5 (2021): 1093-1104. ↩

5. Schmidt, E., Zillikens, D. "Pemphigoid diseases." The Lancet 381.9863 (2013): 320-332. ↩

6. Fine, J.D., et al. "Inherited epidermolysis bullosa: updated recommendations on diagnosis and classification." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 70.6 (2014): 1103-1126. ↩

7. Mulliken, J.B., et al. "Vascular anomalies: Classification, diagnosis, and management." Journal of Clinical Investigation 129.1 (2019): 406-410. ↩

Introduction​

The future of skin cancer prevention has arrived thanks to Legit.Health's revolutionary pre-malignancy estimation tool.

Legit.Health has developed a clinically validated tool that processes smartphone images and automatically analyses them, utilizing the criteria of the top doctors in this field and calculating the pre-malignancy suspicion of any lesion.