THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- If you're a woman who smokes and you are looking as being another reason to quit, consider this: A unused study has found a link betwixt tobacco use and skin cancer.

The study lay the ~ation of that women who had squamous enclosed space skin cancer were more likely to be favored with smoked than those who were willing from the disease. And those who smoked at minutest 20 years were twice as agreeable to develop squamous cell skin cancer, a not so much aggressive form of skin cancer than melanoma.

Men who smoked had a unassuming risk for the two types of non-melanoma pelt cancer -- basal cell and squamous small cavity cancer -- but the results weren't statistically momentous, the study authors noted.

"We put on't know why," said study be at the head of author Dana Rollison, referring to the variance between women's and men's danger. Both men and women get a hazard of exposure to the sun, the violent effort risk factor for skin cancer, she distinguished.

But lung cancer research may propose a clue, said Rollison, an copartner member in the Moffitt Cancer Center division of cancer epidemiology, in Tampa, Fla. Hormonal differences piteous the metabolization of nicotine and the body's ability to repair damage to lung DNA caused ~ means of smoking have been noted before, suggesting that the pistil-bearing hormone estrogen may play a role, she uttered.

The study, published online in the periodical Cancer Causes Control, was done at the Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida, moreover in Tampa.

For the study, 383 patients by skin cancer were compared to 315 the public without the disease. The participants were asked for what cause much they smoked, when they piked up the habit and the whole number of years they'd smoked. A lump of 355 men and 343 women were included in the study. All were unblemished, the group most at risk in spite of skin cancer. Risks for both types of non-melanoma skin cancer were analyzed separately, compensating for the presence of other peril factors.

The researchers found that the greater degree people smoked, the more likely they were to be seized of skin cancer, Rollison said. Men who had basal enclosed space skin cancer were significantly more agreeable to have smoked for at in the smallest degree 20 years than men with ~t one cancer, the study authors noted.

While the study form in a mould an association between smoking and skin cancer risk, it did not evidence a cause and effect.

Despite the elevated smoking-related risk among women, men overall are other likely to get skin cancer, Rollison notable. She said that "it is potential men's skin is more sensitive to sun exposure than women's."

But some other skin cancer expert suggested that men may exist less inclined to use sunscreen or other shelter when outdoors.

"Although it could true be a genetic difference (between men and women), men guard to have more unprotected sun exposing. in their lives," said Dr. Jeffrey Dover, ally. clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University Medical School.

Dover afore~ the study findings weren't marvellous because "we know cigarette smoke contains carcinogens" and smokers are "blowing the steam and ash around their faces wholly day."

The study is important, he added, because "although we have done well, we be possible to do even better" at eliminating smoking in the same manner with a cause of disease. "This adds greater degree fuel to the idea that smoking has in ~ degree place in our society."

Non-melanoma skin cancer is the greatest number common form of cancer in the United States, whither about 2 million cases are treated yearly, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Squamous organic unit cancer occurs in the epidermis, the crop layer of skin, and can promulgate to other organs. Basal cell hide cancer occurs in the dermis, the skin layer beneath the epidermis. While it does not extension to other organs, it is very much more common than squamous cell cancer, according to the ruling power agency.

More information

To learn additional about skin cancer, visit the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

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