What You Should Know About Cancer Risk—and Your Skin
Hope Mitchell, MD, FAAD
The Truth Contributor
February is National Cancer Prevention Month and it’s time to pause and reflect on the choices we make every day. While we can’t change our genetics, we can reduce our cancer risk in meaningful ways. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 40 percent of cancer cases and 44 percent of cancer-related deaths are linked to preventable lifestyle factors.
As a board-certified dermatologist, I often remind patients that your skin is not just about appearance—it’s a window into your overall health. Many lifestyle choices that increase cancer risk also show up on the skin.
Smoking: A Leading Preventable Cause of Cancer—and Skin Damage
Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cancer, particularly lung cancer. In Black men, cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, while prostate cancer—the most common cancer in Black men—is influenced by genetics, obesity and disparities in screening and treatment.
Smoking breaks down collagen and elastin, proteins that give skin its firmness and strength, leading to premature wrinkles, sagging, and “smoker’s lines” around the mouth. It reduces blood flow to the skin, causing dullness, uneven tone, and delayed wound healing. It can also be associated with increased scarring, infections, worsening of psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa, and lead to a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer, particularly on the lips and oral cavity.
Alcohol: A Risk Factor People Often Overlook
Alcohol contributes to approximately 5.4 percent of cancer cases, increasing the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, colon, and breast.
From a skin perspective, alcohol causes dehydration, redness, puffiness, and premature aging – ie. you look older than your age. Chronic heavy use may lead to broken capillaries on the face or yellowing of the skin.
Obesity, Diet, Inflammation
Obesity is a major, preventable cause of cancer and is linked to at least 13 different cancers, including breast, colorectal, uterine, kidney, and pancreatic cancers. Excess fat tissue promotes chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal changes that encourage abnormal cell growth.
On the skin, obesity is associated with poor wound healing, chronic infections, darkened skin folds, skin tags, Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), PCOS, and long-standing inflammation. A diet rich in sugar and dairy products can be associated with increased inflammation and acne, eczema flares and premature aging.
Ultraviolet Light: Why Sun Protection Still Matters
While UV-related skin cancers are more common in Caucasians and lighter skin tones, UV damage affects all skin types. Ultraviolet light causes DNA damage, breaks down collagen, and drives inflammation.
In skin of color, UV exposure often leads to hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and premature aging, and it can still contribute to skin cancer in sun-exposed areas. Daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen is essential for everyone.
The Bottom Line: Prevention Is Powerful
Lifestyle changes aren’t easy—but they are impactful. Quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, protecting your skin, and getting regular skin checks can significantly reduce cancer risk.
This National Cancer Prevention Month, I encourage you to schedule an appointment with your family doctor and dermatologist. Early awareness, detection and prevention can save lives—and improve quality of life.
Hope Mitchell, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist who practices at Mitchell Dermatology in Perrysburg, Ohio.