Most often occurs on lower legs. Can also appear on head, neck, palms and genitals.
Slow-growing, reddish-brown, flat or slightly raised patch of dry, scaly skin. Size ranges from a few millimeters to a few centimeters.
Can itch, ooze pus, bleed or become crusted and/or tender.
Lesions may be warty (verrucous), split open (fissured) or, less often, darkly colored (pigmented).
Typically there is only one lesion, but multiple lesions may develop in 10-20% of cases, usually in more than one area of the body.
Early signs of malignant transformation in Bowen's disease include:
• The development of a fleshy nodule or bump in a skin lesion. This nodule may be tender and bleed easily.
• Ulceration or hardening (induration) of a skin lesion
