Doctors advise some people to take a low dose of aspirin every day to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Recent studies have shown that the daily dose of this drug doubles the risk of skin cancer in men.
- Some doctors recommend taking a daily dose of aspirin. It has long been praised for its cardioprotective effects
- Scientists set out to see if similar protective effects could reduce the risk of skin cancer
- Recent studies suggest that aspirin may increase the risk of melanoma in men. In women, no difference was shown
Melanoma is one of the cancers that cause panic. It is justified because this type of cancer metastasizes faster than others. However, if detected early, it can be completely cured.
Researchers at the University of Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago conducted a study on nearly 200 non-melanoma patients between the ages of 000 and 18, with or without aspirin. The volunteers consumed from 89 to 81 mg of the drug daily. The study lasted as long as 325 years as scientists wanted to be sure of giving the final results.
The results are surprising. It turned out that taking aspirin can also contribute to the development of melanoma. The study found that men exposed to acetylsalicylic acid had almost twice the risk of being diagnosed with melanoma, compared to those who were not. No adverse effects were found in women.
Dr. Beatrice Nardone, professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said: “ Given the widespread use of aspirin and its potential impact on the development of melanoma, patients and healthcare professionals need to be aware of the potential for an increased risk of melanoma in men.
One reason why men may be at greater risk may be because they have fewer protective enzymes.
‘These lower levels of protective enzymes suggest that higher levels of oxidative cell damage that arises in men may contribute to the development of melanoma,’ said Dr Nardone.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Melanoma – symptoms
Melanomas most often develop from pigmented nevi, i.e. flat nevi, malignant lentil spots, and less frequently from blue nevi and unchanged skin. Of the flat pigmented lesions, the most dangerous are those strongly colored, almost black, completely flat or only slightly raised, without hair. Very rarely, neoplasms develop from hairy birthmarks, but this rule does not apply to birthmarks. Malignant lentil stains are most common on the face, more common in women and the elderly. A feature of these changes is a very dark color. The spots grow slowly and have an infiltrated base. They should not be confused with common lentil stains, which are mild pigmented spots that resemble large freckles.
Blue nevus are formed by melanocytes found in the deeper layers of the skin. Hence their bluish, sometimes even black color. They are smooth, hairless and rarely become malignant.
Based on: telegraph.co.uk