During our research in new health news we came across a really interesting article written by Michelle Roberts the health editor of BBC news online. She reported that new research has revealed that scientists believe drinking too much alcohol could set off a chain of reactions in the body that makes the skin more vulnerable to cancer. As both drinking alcohol and sunbathing are popular pastimes in Mallorca we were obviously interested in finding out more.
Roberts went on to explain how ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde soon after ingestion and that this compound may render the skin more sensitive to harmful UV light although, the authors of the work in the British Journal of Dermatology admit that other forces may also be to blame for example drinkers may lounge in the sun without enough protective clothing or sun cream.
However, according to the scientists work, which looked at 16 different studies involving thousands of participants, consuming an alcoholic drink or more a day increases skin cancer risk by a fifth. Risk increased proportionately with alcohol intake – those who drank 50g of ethanol daily (the equivalent of a few strong beers) were up to 55% more likely to develop the deadliest form of skin cancer called melanoma compared with non or occasional drinkers.
Dr Eva Negri, one of the study authors who is from the University of Milan, said: “We know that in the presence of UV radiation, drinking alcohol can alter the body’s immunocompetence, the ability to produce a normal immune response. This can lead to far greater cellular damage and subsequently cause skin cancers to form.”
“We would always urge people to be careful in the sun and try to enjoy it responsibly. It is not uncommon to have a few drinks whilst on holiday or at a barbeque, we would just encourage people to be careful and make sure they are protecting their skin, this research provides an extra incentive to do so. Many of us have seen holiday-makers who have been caught unawares the day before, fuzzy-headed and lobster red – an unwelcome combination.”
Article taken in part from www.bbc.co.uk
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