People With Skin Allergies Are Less Likely To Develop Cancer

Contact allergies to metals or chemicals can cause a red, itchy or painful rash for some unlucky individuals. New research has shown there may be some advantages to suffering with skin allergies.

Scientists in Denmark studied more than 17,000 adults who were tested for common contact allergies to nickel and other chemicals and found those who tested positive for such allergies were less likely to develop cancer years later than those who did not have contact allergies.

When the researchers checked these figures against Denmark’s national cancer registry, they found that having a contact allergy was associated with a strong protective effect against cancer; in particular there was a lowered risk of breast cancer and skin cancers that weren’t due to melanoma.

How do allergies protect people against cancer?

Allergic reactions are basically a heightened immune response to normally benign compounds. Therefore people with allergies might be better primed for any foreign intruders, including cancer cells.

“People with allergies seem to have less cancer or have fewer different cancer types than patients who don’t have allergies,” says Engkilde. “The reason for this is uncertain but it might have to do with the immune surveillance theory, which speculates that patients with allergies may have a more ready and observant immune system that could lead to earlier detection of cancerous cells.”

The most important nutrients to strengthen your immune system against cancer are vitamin D and selenium. Unfortunately many people do not get sufficient levels in their diet, therefore supplementation may be necessary.

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