Does Smoking Really Lead to Skin Cancer? Here’s the Theory

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Body Basics, Functions, Health Conditions, Systems

Cancer, lung cancer, sick factor, Skin, skin cancer, smoking

Does Smoking Really Lead to Skin Cancer? Here’s the Theory

A group of people from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute conducted a recent study that found that people who smoke have a much greater chance of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin than non-smokers. Both SCC and basal cell carcinoma are not usually fatal, but their prevalence continues to increase. The researchers said it is still unclear what causes the increased risk for skin cancer in smokers, but the connection is clearly there.

SOURCE: Dusingize et al. Cigarette Smoking and the Risks of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Invest Dermatol. 2017;137(8):1700–1708. N