Smoking, a Dangerous Habit for the Skin
JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(3):366-367.
doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.2653
Ronni
Wolf
We are all acutely
aware of the causal association of UV radiation exposure and skin
cancers, and we warn our patients about the hazards of sun exposure. In
the August issue of this journal, Leonardi-Bee et al1
published an important systematic review and meta-analysis on the
effects of smoking on the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Their study
clearly demonstrated that smoking increases the risk of cutaneous
squamous cell carcinoma, although it does not appear to modify the risk
of basal cell carcinoma. Verkouteren and Nijsten,2
in commentary published in the same issue, shed light on the practical
implications of the findings and explain how they translate into
clinical practice. The authors of this comment justifiably urge us to
take advantage of this association and “collaborate with
smoking cessation programs as an element of good patient
care,”2
suggesting that “physicians could make use of the current
cancer experience in motivating patients to discontinue smoking, which
has many additional important health benefits.”2
I
would like to raise another point that I believe will be even more
alarming to the smoking public, who, in spite of our efforts to promote
our antismoking campaign, appear not to be deterred by the threats of
cancer and death. As dermatologists, we are “lucky”
to possess what may be even more convincing reasons and motivations for
supporting the antismoking campaign. We propose that, for many smokers,
particularly the young ones, the evidence that smoking is associated
with irreversible aesthetic damage (ie, premature aging and wrinkling
of the skin and discoloring of the teeth3)
and deleterious effects on male sexual potency4
will be much more compelling than the proof that smoking can cause skin
cancer and kill. One glance at the figures of how much is spent on
fillers for wrinkles and teeth-whitening procedures is enough to reveal
what the public really cares about. As such, we dermatologists are
armed with extremely potent ammunition in the war against smoking, and
we should use it to the fullest. Articles such as the analysis of
Leonardi-Bee et al1
and the comments of Verkouteren and Nijsten2
are a most welcome addition to our armamentarium.
Referenced
JAMA Dermatol study & Comment: