Some blood pressure medications may increase sensitivity to sunlight and raise the risk of developing a common form of skin cancer, according to a new registry study from Lund University in Sweden.
The findings suggest a small increase—up to 9%—in the risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) for certain drugs.
“Blood pressure treatment should not be discontinued. But it’s good if doctors inform patients that extra sun protection may be needed,” says researcher Johan Kappelin, senior consultant at the dermatology clinic in Landskrona, Sweden.
Kappelin recently earned his Ph.D. in medical science at Lund University. His research focused on the link between widely used antihypertensive medications and basal cell carcinoma, a slow-growing skin cancer most commonly found on sun-exposed areas like the face and neck.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer in Sweden, with 70,000 new cases each year. Although it rarely spreads, it still requires treatment—usually surgical removal, freezing, or scraping of the tumor.
Previous studies have indicated a connection between antihypertensive drugs and increased skin cancer risk. Kappelin’s study zoomed in specifically on basal cell carcinoma, analyzing data from national Swedish registries.
The study examined the following types of blood pressure medications:
- Thiazides (diuretics)
• ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors)
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Calcium channel blockers
• Beta blockers
The results showed a 9% increased risk of BCC among users of thiazides (when taken as combination therapy), ARBs, and calcium channel blockers. For beta blockers, the risk was about 7%. Interestingly, ACE inhibitors were not associated with an increased risk and may even offer slight protective effects.
Kappelin was surprised by the consistent risk across different medication groups and questioned whether the risk stems from drug combinations or another component in combination therapies.
While the overall risk increase is small, the researchers suggest patients on blood pressure medications may benefit from taking extra precautions in the sun.
The study drew from a large sample: around 130,000 people with BCC and twice as many without the disease. However, it didn’t include factors like skin type or lifestyle habits, so a direct cause-and-effect relationship between medications and BCC cannot be confirmed.
In conclusion, the study highlights a possible link between some antihypertensive medications and skin cancer risk. Doctors may want to advise patients to be more vigilant about sun protection, even though current treatment recommendations remain unchanged.
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The study is published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica.
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