title: Seborrheic skin and acne vulgaris as protective factors against the development of basal cell epithelioma.
abstract: This study was conducted in order to evaluate a possible protective role of seborrheic complexion and a history of acne on the development of basal cell epithelioma (BCE). For this purpose, 77 patients with this tumor were examined and asked to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic data and questions about skin type, eye and hair colors, sun exposure habits and a past history of acne. The nature, number and location of tumors, the texture of skin and acne scars were noted by a physician. A group of 93 age-, sex- and skin-color-matched patients served as controls. The results show a clear relationship between seborrheic features and a lower risk of developing BCE, after controlling for solar exposure using the Mantel-Haenszel summary measure. The same trend was found in patients with a history of acne. Whether ultraviolet light absorption by sebum, an anticancer activity of Propionibacterium acnes or other factors play a protective role against the development of BCE is as yet unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Friedman-Birnbaum
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Linn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eidlitz-Markus
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harth
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D006200:Hair Color; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013472:Sunlight