Pathophysiology of skin cancers

By Magnus Balslev Avnstorp, MD, Mike Mikkelsen Lorenzen and Simon Yde, MD

UV light damages the DNA of the skin by inducing free radicals in the cells. Free radicals are also found in cigarette smoke and environmental pollutants. The free radicals cause damage to the DNA double helix, changing the cells repairing mechanism, replication and also inhibit apoptosis (programmed cell death). The cell thereby evolves to an invasive skin cancer.