Priyanka Tiwari
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Skin cancer is an insidious disease and if not treated in time it can turn fatal. But are you aware that certain drugs that are readily available in the market can put one at a higher risk for skin cancer? Certain medicines that we come across in our day to day life can wreak havoc on your skin and the risks are even higher if these drugs are consumed for a long time.
Just like general precautions taken for sun exposure and maintaining healthy skin are needed while consuming medication. There are those who take medications without consulting a doctor and such reckless prescription can lead to skin burns due to heightened sun exposure, which ultimately leads to the death of skin cells. In this article, we shall discuss four medicines that have the potential to unleash skin cancer if used continuously over an extended period of time, and outline how one can avoid these risks.
1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics are broadly used to treat any type of bacterial infection. Among the diverse range of antibiotic drugs, there are certain groups which increase photosensitivity. This leads to the skin becoming exposed to repetitive irritation, rashes and skin damage. Considerable sunlight exposure causes the irritation which has the ability to develop into skin cancer.
2. Diuretics (medications that promote increased urination)
Diuretics are helpful for issues such as high blood pressure and edema. They also boost the sensitivity of skin towards sun rays. Prolonged intake of these medications can lead to skin being scorched, which elevates the chances of skin cancer significantly.
3. Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants are usually prescribed after an organ transplant in order to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted organ. These medications lower immune response, therefore decreasing the body’s ability to combat infections. Because skin cancer is one of the serious diseases an individual becomes susceptible to with a weakened immune system, there is little that the body can do to restrain the proliferation of cancer cells.
4. NSAIDs (medicines used to relieve pain)
These drugs classified and used as analgesics offer reduction of pain and swelling in the affected area. They do however pose a risk of skin exposure damage over a long-term duration of usage. Emphasis has been placed that people using these medications excessively become more susceptible to skin cancer.
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