Viagra and Skin Cancer? What The Research Says

Driving home one night I heard a radio show discuss the possibility that Viagra may be linked to skin cancer (melanoma). That's a new one! I was intrigued, so I made a mental note to check into it when I got home. Sure enough, there is some research on this so what I want to do is look only at the research and in doing so, hopefully, give men a better idea of whether or not they may have a problem.

Viagra Skin Cancer Research

To find the answer if there is a connection I searched  clinical databases for these words:

• Viagra skin cancer

• Sildenafil skin cancer (Sildenafil is the scientific name for Viagra)

• Viagra melanoma (melanoma is the medical name for skin cancer

• Sildenafil melanoma

I found the following relevant human study:

A 2014 study titled, Sildenafil use and increased risk of incident melanoma in US men: a prospective cohort study. This study began in 2000 and lasted 10 years. It involved 25,848 men who were part of another study called the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study, which has been going on since the late 1980s.

Only men with no cancers were included in this study. Men were quizzed ahead of time for whether they used Viagra or not. Some men used it and others did not at the start of the study. Every 2 years during the study, the men filled out surveys about how their health was going. This included questions about cancer development and the use of Viagra.

At the end of this study, the researchers identified:

• 142 cases of melanoma

• 580 cases of squamous cell carcinoma

• 3030 basal cell carcinoma

They noted that Viagra use at the start of the study was significantly associated with more melanoma – the most serious type of skin cancer.

Conversely, Viagra was not associated with squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma.

Interestingly, the researchers also noted a significant increase in melanoma in men who – at any time in the past -had used Viagra.

In men who had ED but did not take Viagra, there was no significant increase in melanoma rates.

What I was unclear about with this study is how many of the men who got skin cancers also used sunscreen? It would be interesting to skin cancer/Viagra alongside whether or not men who got skin cancer also used a sunscreen.

Problems With The Study

Before men freak out about this study need to know a few things:

     1. This study didn’t “prove” Viagra caused skin cancer. Rather, the researchers tracked men over 10 years. They noticed an association between Viagra and skin cancer. An association and “proof” are not always the same thing.

     2. Out of 25,848 men, only 142 men got melanoma. Looking at it this way, that makes the risk pretty low – although I admit melanoma is nothing to mess around with. It is serious cancer.

In 2015, another study was published on erection drugs and skin cancer. This study tracked people from 2006-2012 and compared PD5 inhibitor drugs (Viagra, Levitra, Cialis) to melanoma cases (skin cancer).

Of the 4065 men who developed melanoma, 11% (435 men) had filled prescriptions for Pd5 inhibitors. In the control group, who did not use such drugs,  only 1713 men (8%) developed skin cancer. The risk of skin cancer seemed similar to whether the men used Viagra (Sildenafil ) , Levitra  (Vardenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil).

Problems With The Study

The men who took erection drugs tended to be different than those who did not. Specifically, the men tended to make more money and have a higher education level. This leaves open the possibility that skin cancer may be related to the men doing other things (lifestyle factors) that may have contributed to melanoma.

In other words, this study, like the one above, does not prove PD5 inhibitors are linked to skin cancer. Rather, it just shows an association. Just because two things are associated does not always have to mean they are connected.

 

What About ED Supplements?

Walk into the back of almost any vitamin store and you will find several dietary supplements that are touted to improve erections. Often these have interesting names that subtly give the impression they increase hardness.

Right now there is no evidence linking dietary supplements for ED to melanoma. The ingredients in these supplements tend to work differently than Viagra too, which makes me think they probably would not have the same outcomes.

That said, men should know that several ED supplements have been found to be spiked with Viagra, Levitra and/or Cialis. These drugs are not listed on the labels. the FDA often finds these after the products are sold.

It's my experience that male enhancement products are often the sketchiest / shadiest category of dietary supplements. Since 99% of the ingredients have no proof, and because some might be hidden ED drugs, I advise men to steer clear of them.

See the Supplements/Viagra review for more insights.

What Can Men Do?

Talking about ED can be a touchy subject for men. I get that. That said, because skin cancer is such a terrible disease (I had a cousin die from it), I think it’s a good idea to get a yearly check-up by a dermatologist. They can look all over the body and see if anything is going on. It would only take a few minutes. Just Google “dermatologist and your zip code” and they will all show up. By now, I'm sure every dermatologist and esthetician is up on the “Viagra skin cancer study” so I recommend men bring it up to them to see what they think. It goes without saying but, Viagra or not, men should wear a sunscreen when they go outside, preferably one with at least an SPF of 50 such as this brand that I use.

Viagra And Melanoma: Yes or No?

Right now, I think its a “wait for more research” thing. While the first study reviewed here is actually based on previous research that showed that Viagra appeared to activate genes that played a role in the spread of melanoma, the findings of the 2nd study seem to – on the surface make some think there is a connection. Still, both studies seem to only show there may be a connection. Whether or not there is a direct link will need better studies.

What do you think?