In his July/August 2014 editorial for the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, “A Cocktail for Skin Cancer: Why Alcohol and Sun Exposure Do Not Mix”, Dr. Rivers examines recent findings showing that the alcohol amount and type can raise the risk of developing various skin cancers.
Across several different studies some of the findings include:
- Current and lifetime alcohol consumption can predict risk for skin cancer
- Preference for white wine or liquor can confer a higher risk of skin cancer, but may decrease with beer and/or red wine
- Alcohol is believed to decrease the concentration of antioxidants in the skin, reducing the skin’s defenses
He summarizes by noting:
These findings highlight alcohol as an important modifiable lifestyle risk factor for skin cancer. They also bring to light an emerging aspect of counseling patients about skin cancer prevention; advice may have to extend beyond “slip, slop, slap” as our knowledge grows. What is becoming increasingly valid advice is that in a healthy diet, antioxidants, reduced alcohol intake (except for red wine and maybe beer), and stress reduction can also act as important elements of photoprotection.
Read the full article from the Canadian Dermatology Association’s Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery: page one and page two.
