Study suggests that playing golf might increase the risk of skin cancer by twofold

A new study suggests that playing golf may increase the risk of skin cancer.

Researchers in Australia discovered that more than a quarter of regular golfers have received a skin cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives.

After considering other risk factors such as age, sex, and smoking status, the study found that golfers are two and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer compared to the rest of the population.

The researchers attributed this higher risk to repeated sun exposure and inadequate sunscreen use.

In the study, some 27 percent of golf participants had been diagnosed with skin cancer compared to seven percent of the general population

Researchers from the University of South Australia in Adelaide analyzed health information from an online survey of 336 players, which started in 2018.

Only people who played golf at least once a month were included in the study.

The players’ responses were compared to the health information of almost 16,000 Australians in the general population who had participated in the Australian Health Survey, conducted every four years.

Some 27 percent of golf participants had been diagnosed with skin cancer compared to seven percent of the general population.

After adjusting for age, sex, education, and smoking status, Australian players were found to be 2.4 times more likely to develop skin cancer than their non-golfing peers.

Lead study author Brad Stenner emphasized that older golfers may have been exposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays prior to taking up golf, and are only now experiencing the effects.

Additionally, the study did not collect data on actual levels of UV radiation (UVR) exposure.

Nevertheless, UVR exposure is a well-established cause of skin cancer, according to Stenner.

Stenner said the research team found “a significantly higher risk, which we believe is associated with prolonged sun exposure and/or not using skin-protection strategies.”