Skin tumors are supposed to develop through accumulations of genetic and/or epigenetic events in normal cells of the skin. Among them, we focus on common skin tumors, including benign, seborrheic keratosis, and malignant, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Many important molecules have been detected on the molecular tumorigenesis of each of them to date, and some drugs targeted for their molecules have been already developed. We review updates on the molecular tumorigenesis of these tumors with our current works.

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Introduction: Appropriate skin care for dry scalp includes treatment for dandruff and itchiness. However, little is known about the appropriate washing methods for subjects with dry scalp. Methods: A scalp moisturizing lotion was used for 8 weeks on 30 outpatients at the Tokushima University Hospital who had dry scalp. All subjects were given the same hair shampoo/conditioner and instructions on how to wash their hair. Scalp symptoms were observed before and after the testing period. Indigenous bacteria were collected from the scalp for quantitative assessment. A survey was conducted to assess the quality of life (QOL). Results: All scalp condition items (dryness, scales and desquamation, itchiness, excoriation, and erythema) improved significantly after the testing period; the levels of Malassezia and bacterial colonization also decreased significantly. The QOL evaluation indicated significant improvements in "symptoms", "emotions", and "global" measures. A correlation was found between the extent of dryness at the start of the test and the level of Malassezia colonization, as well as QOL scores. Conclusion: Using a scalp moisturizing lotion, washing hair with a shampoo and conditioner that cause low irritation levels, and using a hair washing method that avoids irritation led to improvement in scalp condition, QOL, and patient satisfaction.

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