Just one glass of wine a day can increases the risk of certain forms of skin cancer by up to 11 percent, new research reveals.
For every extra 10g of alcohol a day, the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC) rises by seven percent and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) by 11 percent, a study found.
That is equivalent to a small glass of wine or half a pint of beer.
Past research suggests the ethanol in alcohol can metabolize into acetaldehyde, which is a chemical compound that damages DNA and prevents its repair.
The researchers of the recent study argue that alcohol is a preventable and modifiable risk factor.
Consequently, they believe their findings could help create a global health target to reduce skin cancer's burden.
Every 10g raises the risk by 7-to-11%
Researchers from Brown University analyzed 13 studies that compared alcohol intake with a total of 95,241 non-melanoma skin cancer cases.
Results reveal that for every 10 gram increase in alcohol intake per day, a person's risk of BCC increases by seven percent and cSCC by 11 percent.
BCC and cSCC are abnormal, uncontrolled growths that arise in the outer layers of the skin, but in different cell types.
Study author Dr Eunyoung Cho said: 'This is an important finding given that there are few ways to prevent skin cancer.'
The researchers add that alcohol intake is preventable and modifiable, and could therefore be used as a global health target to reduce skin cancer cases.
They did not speculate on why alcohol is linked to cancer, however, past research suggests the ethanol in booze can metabolize into acetaldehyde; a chemical compound that damages DNA and prevents its repair.
The findings were published in the British Journal of Dermatology.
It is unclear if alcohol is linked to melanoma; the most deadly form of skin cancer.
Small glass of wine a day raises risk by 13%
This comes after previous findings from the same researchers revealed a small glass of white wine a day increases the risk of skin cancer by 13 percent.
While a glass-and-a-half raises the risk of melanoma on the torso - a rare site for the condition to develop - by up to 73 percent compared to non-drinkers. It is unclear why this region of the body in particular was studied.
Past research has shown white wine has higher levels of acetaldehyde than beer or spirits.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
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