Based on PubMed | Does alcohol consumption increase the risk of melanoma?

Alcohol consumption appears to be associated with a modestly increased risk of melanoma, especially at higher intake levels, although sun exposure and skin type remain the dominant risk factors. ^[1] Evidence suggests a dose‑response pattern where moderate to heavy drinking is linked with higher melanoma risk compared with little or no drinking. ^[1]

What the evidence shows

• Meta-analyses: A pooled analysis of 16 epidemiologic studies found that people who drink alcohol have about a 20% higher relative risk of melanoma compared to non/occasional drinkers (RR ≈ 1.20). ^[1] In the same analysis, light drinking (≤1 drink/day) had a smaller, non‑significant increase (RR ≈ 1.10), while moderate‑to‑heavy drinking showed a statistically significant increase (RR ≈ 1.18). ^[1] Another comprehensive review of site‑specific cancers reported a positive association between alcohol and melanoma, although weaker than for cancers like oral cavity, esophagus, or breast. ^[2]
• Prospective cohort data: In a large cohort of postmenopausal women, consuming 7 or more drinks per week was linked to a higher hazard of melanoma compared with non‑drinkers (HR ≈ 1.64). ^[3] This study also observed higher melanoma risk with greater lifetime alcohol consumption. ^[3] Preference for certain beverages (white wine or liquor) was associated with increased melanoma hazard compared with non‑drinkers. ^[3]

How strong is this link?

• Magnitude: The increase in risk is generally modest (on the order of 10–20% for drinkers overall), which is smaller than the impact of ultraviolet (UV) exposure, fair skin, family history, or numerous/atypical moles. ^[1]
• Confounding by sun exposure: Many studies adjust for sun exposure and skin type, and the association often persists but may be attenuated, meaning residual confounding cannot be completely ruled out. ^[1]
• Consistency: Multiple studies point in the same direction greater alcohol intake relates to higher melanoma risk supporting a probable relationship, though causality is not definitively proven. ^{[1] [2]}

Possible biological reasons

• DNA damage and oxidative stress: Alcohol is metabolized to acetaldehyde, which can form DNA adducts and impair DNA repair, while alcohol metabolism can generate reactive oxygen species that damage cells. ^[4] These mechanisms could plausibly contribute to carcinogenesis in skin cells exposed to UV. ^[4]
• Immunosuppression and tumor promotion: Chronic alcohol use may dampen immune surveillance and act as a tumor promoter, which could facilitate growth of UV‑induced malignant cells. ^[5]

Context within cancer prevention

• Alcohol and cancer generally: Alcohol is recognized as a carcinogen and raises the risk of several cancers (e.g., mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon/rectum, larynx, female breast). ^[6] Reducing alcohol intake is a recommended strategy to lower overall cancer risk. ^[6] While melanoma is not among the strongest alcohol‑linked cancers, the weight of evidence suggests some increase in melanoma risk with higher intake. ^{[1] [2]}

Practical takeaways

• Limit alcohol: Cutting back from moderate-to-heavy drinking may help lower melanoma risk modestly and will reduce the risk of several other cancers. ^[6]
• Prioritize sun safety: Because UV exposure remains the principal driver of melanoma, combine alcohol moderation with strong sun protection: seek shade, use broad‑spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and avoid tanning beds. (General best practice; not citation-based within provided context)
• Know your skin risk: If you have fair skin, many moles, or a personal/family history of skin cancer, consider extra vigilance with both sun protection and alcohol moderation, and maintain regular skin checks with a clinician. (General risk management; not citation-based within provided context)

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Summary table: Alcohol and melanoma evidence

Evidence type	Key finding	Estimated effect
Systematic review/meta‑analysis (16 studies)	Any drinking vs. none linked to melanoma risk; stronger with moderate-to-heavy intake; partial persistence after adjusting for sun exposure	RR ≈ 1.20 overall; RR ≈ 1.18 for moderate-to-heavy; adjusted RR ≈ 1.15 with sun exposure controls
Comprehensive cancer meta‑analysis	Positive association noted for melanoma among many sites studied	Positive association, smaller than for strongly linked sites
Prospective cohort (postmenopausal women)	≥7 drinks/week increased melanoma hazard vs. none; higher lifetime intake also associated; white wine/liquor preference linked to higher risk	HR ≈ 1.64 for ≥7 drinks/week; HR ≈ 1.52 (white wine) and ≈1.65 (liquor) vs. non‑drinkers

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Bottom line

Alcohol consumption is likely associated with a small increase in melanoma risk, particularly with moderate-to-heavy intake, though the effect size is modest and sun exposure remains the dominant risk factor. ^{[1] [3]} Reducing alcohol use alongside rigorous sun protection may provide incremental risk reduction. ^[6]