Use of calcium channel blockers linked to more severe actinic keratosis of face and scalp

Actinic keratosis is a skin condition associated with sun exposure, age, and immunosuppression. Certain drugs, such as calcium channel blockers and photosensitizing medications have been linked to AK. Ingrid S. Gioppo, Hospital Geral de Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil, and colleagues explored the impact of behavioural, individual, and exposure factors on the severity of AKs on the scalp and face in a multicenter cross-sectional study.

The study involved immunocompetent individuals with at least one actinic keratosis on their scalp or face and assessed sun exposure and protection, demographic factors, history of skin cancer, and use of medications within the last six months. The primary outcome of the study was determined as the Actinic Keratosis Area and Severity Index (AKASI) score, and the variation in AKASI scores was evaluated using a hierarchical generalized linear model, adjusting for age, gender, and skin prototype. A total of two hundred seventy subjects between 39 and 92 years were evaluated.

The study revealed the following findings:

· The majority had phototype I or II (77%), male gender (51%), low adherence to sunscreen use (29%), and personal history of skin cancer (55%).

· The use of photosensitizing medications was reported by 61%.

· Through multivariate analysis, older age (βSE = 0.14), lighter skin phototype (βSE = 0.15), sunburning (βSE = 0.12), history of skin cancer (βSE = 0.12), and use of CCBs (βSE = 0.11) were identified as independent risk factors for AK severity.

· Photosensitizing drugs were not identified as risk factors.

"We confirmed lower skin phototype classifications, older age, and a personal history of skin cancer as severity risk factors for actinic keratosis, while CCB use was associated with more severe AK," the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Gioppo, I. S., Martins, C., Santos, S. S., R. Preto, J. F., Miola, A. C., & Miot, H. A. (2023). Association between calcium channel blockers and the severity of actinic keratosis on face and scalp: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Dermatology, 62(12), 1511-1519. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.16871