(09-07-10) Common Antibiotics IncreaseYour Skin Cancer Risk

by Kerri Knox, RN, citizen journalist



Most people would identify sun exposure as the primary risk factor for
getting skin cancer, but few would think of antibiotics as a contributing
factor to this deadly disease. Yet there is an entire class of antibiotics that
are known to cause a condition known as photocarcinogenesis that can multiply
the damage normally done by the sun and lead to an increase in the risk of skin
cancer.

The Quinolone class of antibiotics, which includes such common antibiotics as
Levaquin (Levofloxacin) and Cipro (Ciprofloxacin), has a LONG history of
causing dangerous toxic conditions. In fact, no less than nine different
Quinolone antibiotics have actually been approved by the FDA and released onto
the market only to be found to be so dangerous that they had to be removed and
recalled.

While each one was removed for various different toxic reactions, at least
four were removed due to a problem called 'Phototoxicity'. Phototoxicity is a
common occurrence with many prescription medications requiring people using
them to stay out of the sun because of the excess sun damage and sunburn that
can result. But the phototoxicity that is caused by the Quinolone antibiotics
may be so bad that it is causing genetic damage to the cells and contributing
to a more damaging form of phototoxicity called 'Photocarcinogenesis'. A
carcinogen is a substance that is known to cause cancer; therefore,
photocarcinogenesis refers to a substance that can actually cause skin cancer
in the presence of sunlight. Yet this fact was only discovered AFTER these
drugs had been released onto the market and significant numbers of complaints
of severe skin problems from sunlight exposure were reported.

While it would be logical to think that the FDA might be extra cautious and
require more extensive studies for sun damage from Quinolone antibiotics
considering their checkered past, this does not seem to be the case. Several
Quinolones have been approved since these nine have been recalled and all
Quinolones have a warning on them to stay out of the sun. But few people read
package inserts and doctors and pharmacists can't possibly discuss every
warning of every drug with each patient - so this fact often remains unknown to
the millions of people taking these antibiotics every year. Even more
disturbing is that there is now a Quinolone cream approved for use of skin
infections - such as acne. This cream will be used primarily by teenagers who
are not known to be cautious about going out in the sun. Not only that, but the
possibility that teens and young adults will be using this drug for years and
even decades, as acne drugs generally are, combined with even a small increase
in photocarcinogenic damage at such a young age could significantly increase
lifetime skin cancer risk.

Since it is WELL known by drug manufacturers and the FDA that Quinolone
antibiotics increase skin cancer risk in animals and cause skin damage in
humans, those taking Quinolones regularly for non-life threatening chronic
conditions, such as acne, bronchitis and sinus infections, are unwitting test
subjects for the drug companies and the FDA to determine long-term skin cancer
risk.

Resources:

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en...

http://www.side-effects-site.com/qu...

http://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/ab...

Source: NaturalNews

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In evidenza

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