Alcohol Use Linked To Increased Skin Cancer (Melanoma) Risk
Alcohol is a known carcinogen. Alcohol intake was associated with higher rates of invasive melanoma among white men and women. White wine carried the most significant association, and the increased risk was greater for parts of the body that receive less sun exposure.
In order to determine whether alcohol consumption increased melanoma risk the researchers used data from three large prospective cohort studies in which 210,252 participants were followed for a mean of 18.3 years, using food-frequency questionnaires to determine their alcohol consumption.
Some key findings
Overall alcohol intake was associated with a 14% higher risk of melanoma per drink per day. Each drink per day of white wine was associated with a 13% increased risk of melanoma. Other forms of alcohol—beer, red wine, and liquor—did not significantly affect melanoma risk.
The association between alcohol and melanoma was strongest for parts of the body that typically receive less sun exposure.
To read more about the study and its findings, click here.
What it all means
The study adds melanoma to the list of cancers associated with alcohol. Alcohol intake was associated with a modest increase in the risk of melanoma, particularly in UV-protected sites.
These findings further support American Cancer Society Guidelines for Cancer Prevention to limit alcohol intake.
The clinical and biological significance of these findings remains to be determined, but for motivated individuals with other strong risk factors for melanoma, counseling regarding alcohol use may be an appropriate risk-reduction strategy to reduce risks of melanoma as well as other cancers,” the researchers explained.
