When we hear the word melanoma, the first thought that comes to mind is sunlight exposure. In addition to sunlight exposure, studies have also suggested that alcohol consumption can be linked to an increased risk of skin cancer. By studying three healthy men in Germany, researchers measured how much UV light it took for the men to develop sunburns after consuming three drinks. They found that after consuming alcohol, it took less UV light to burn the skin.



Scientists believe that this happens because of decreased carotenoid levels in the body. Carotenoids are defined as the yellow, red, and orange pigments that are produced by plants that are known to have antioxidant properties that protect against the damage of UV light. We consume carotenoids through vegetable consumption. Upon alcohol consumption, the men’s carotenoid levels decreased, which led to a decrease in antioxidants that made them more vulnerable to sunburns.



The decreased antioxidant levels do not entirely explain why alcohol is linked to sunburns because sunburns can be attributed to additional external factors. More research will be needed to grasp to understand the relationship between alcohol and sunburns.



To learn more, please visit https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/14/741063881/mixing-alcohol-and-sun-beware-a-buzz-begets-a-faster-burn