Burn injuries do not increase risk of skin cancer

Patients are not at increased risk of skin cancer due to formerly burn injuries, a new Danish follow-up study prove.

139 skin cancers were found, against 189 expected, among patients with burn injuries. That leave a standardized incidence rate of 0,7. The reduced risk of skin cancer was mainly a result of reduced risk of basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. The relative risk of squamous cell carcinoma was close to expected. 

For patients with the most severe burns or with the longest periods of follow-up there was no consistent increased risk for skin cancer.

The result is based on 16.903 patients, who were suffered either a thermal or chemical burn during 1978 to 1993 and who participated in the study controlled by Dr. Lene Mellemkjaer from the Danish Cancer Society in Copenhagen. Through 2002 the patients were followed in The Danish Cancer Registry concerning development of skin cancer. The mean follow-up time was 15.6 years.

Less exposure to the sun
Dr. Mellemkjaer argue that the reduced risk may be due to less exposure to the sun after a burn injury. Sun exposure might be uncomfortable for burned patients or the patients might stay out of the sun because of cosmetic reasons.