Skin Cancer: Another Reason to Stop Smoking

Current and ever smokers had increased risk for developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.

Although most skin cancers are caused by excessive sun exposure, environmental chemicals have also been implicated in their development. Tobacco smoke contains such chemicals — polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which are known to cause cancer in the skin and other organs. Investigators performed a meta-analysis of published studies on the relationship between tobacco use and nonmelanoma skin cancer.

A search of four electronic databases identified 25 cohort and case-control studies published between 1950 and October 2010 on tobacco use and skin cancer that met the inclusion criteria. Tobacco exposure included cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. The data were insufficient to establish a clear association between tobacco use and nonmelanoma skin…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)