Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in people. There are over 40 types of HPV that infect the genital areas of both men and women. Though most infections do not lead to any symptoms, they can result in genital warts and can also lead to tumor formation in the cervix of women and the mucosal surfaces of the genitals of both men and women.

Now, researchers have discovered a link between HPV infection and certain forms of skin cancer. This was found to be especially true when people are taking immunosuppressive medication. The new research, published in the British Medical Journal, found that when people were infected with one or more forms of specific HPVs, they were at a 1.5-times greater risk for developing certain forms of skin cancer as opposed to people who were not infected with HPVs.

The study in question focused on a type of HPV known as beta HPVs. In the past, infection with beta HPVs has been particularly problematic in people who have undergone organ transplantation or have a certain rare genetic disorder known as epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV).

Doctors wanted to learn more about any possible links between beta HPVs and skin cancer in the general population. In order to arrive at their findings, they examined 2,366 people who were divided into three groups: those with with squamous cell carcinoma (663); those with basal cell carcinoma (898); and a group of health controls (805).

HPV was measured in newly diagnosed skin cancer patients and controls by way of HPV anitbody measurements in blood samples. It turns out that people with squamous cell carcinoma were more likely than those with basal cell carcinoma to have beta HPV types when compared to the control group. The chance of having squamous cell carcinoma increased with the number of HPV types. The data suggests that addressing the potential link between HPV infection and skin cancer may be one avenue to reduce that risk of disease.

Skin cancer is in fact the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than one million new non-melanoma cases being diagnosed every year. Non-melanoma skin cancer includes squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, which affect the squamous and basal cells of the skin, respectively. Melanoma is a rarer but more deadly form of the disease.

Though HPV infection has been implicated in the formation of skin cancer, the most common cause is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, primarily from the sun. For this reason, proper steps should be taken to protect the skin when time is spent outdoors. This includes protective clothing and the use of sunscreen.

If you have questions or concerns about HPV or skin cancer, speak with your doctor. For more information about HPV, visit the website for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information about skin cancer, visit the homepage for the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society.