RESUMO
Cutis rhomboidalis nuchae is a skin alteration which comes from chronic sun exposure and it integrates the solar elastosis group, acquiring a coriaceous aspect, with a yellowish and grooved surface. There is the occurrence of elastic and collagen fibers degeneration found in the dermis caused by ultraviolet radiation [1]. Another group of skin diseases which has solar exposure as a determining factor is the group of actinic keratoses, the non-melanoma malignant epithelial tumors {basal cell carcinoma (CBC) and squamous cell carcinoma (CEC)} [2]. However, the occurrence of actinic keratoses, CBCs or CECs on the area of cutis rhomboidalis is infrequent in dermatology clinical practice. The authors do not know why people with neoplasias and pre neoplastic lesions in some areas with chronic photo damage amendments (face and upper limbs), do not present the same pre and neoplastic lesions in areas with similar appearance of chronic sun damage (nape). The authors seek to understand why the nape is protected for pre and neoplastic lesions. We suggest that cutis rhomboidalis protects skin from malignant epithelial tumors in nuchae.