Alcohol Increases The Risk Of Melanoma

Author: Dean Rouseberg Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

Ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde - a compound that can make the skin more sensitive to otherwise harmful UV rays.

Consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol can trigger a number of reactions in the body that make the skin more vulnerable to cancer.

Soon after drinking alcohol, ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde - a compound that can make the skin more sensitive to otherwise harmful UV rays . The authors of the study acknowledge that there are other factors that contribute to the development of dangerous skin disease . For example, people, in addition to drinking too much alcohol, may be exposed to the sun without the necessary protective clothing or sunscreen, which significantly increases the risk.

Researchers have found that consuming one alcoholic drink a day or more can increase the risk by one-fifth. The results are based on 16 other studies involving thousands of participants.

The risk of skin cancer increases in proportion to alcohol intake. Those who consume 50 g of ethanol a day - the equivalent of a few stronger beers - are 55% more at risk of developing severe skin cancer - melanoma , than people who do not exceed the recommended amounts.

One of the authors of the study - Dr. Eva Negri from the University of Milan, explains that scientists have long known that in the presence of UV radiation , alcohol consumption can change the body's immunocompetence - the ability to respond adequately .

This can lead to more serious cell damage and subsequent cancer. The aim of the present study is to determine the extent of alcohol consumption that can lead to the development of melanoma so that people can be informed and protected.

However, it is important to remember that the winter sun, especially high in the mountains, is no less dangerous than the summer heat.

The data from the study are published in the British Journal of Dermatology .

Alcohol Increases The Risk Of Melanoma

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