Sun protection for all: but especially for those receiving certain hypertensive medications: comment on "Antihypertensive drugs and lip cancer in non-Hispanic whites".

pharmaceuticals for possible carcinogenic effects: initial positive results for drugs not previously screened.matologic effects of cardiovascular drug therapy: part II. Cardiol Rev. 2002; 10(5):285-300. 6. Krieger N. Overcoming the absence of socioeconomic data in medical records: validation and application of a census-based methodology. Incidence of cancers in people with HIV/AIDS compared with immunosuppressed transplant recipients: a meta-analysis. Comparison of the incidence of malignancy in recipients of different types of organ: a UK Registry audit. the Census Bureau's surname list to improve estimates of race/ethnicity and associated disparities. Use of photosensitising diuretics and risk of skin cancer: a population-based case-control study. medication use and risk of skin cancer. Major outcomes in high-risk hypertensive patients randomized to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or calcium channel blocker vs diuretic: the Antihy-pertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). H ypertensive medications are commonly prescribed , yet physicians and patients may be unaware that many of these agents are photosen-sitizing. Although the study by Friedman et al focused on lip cancer, a rare cancer, it is likely that patients receiving these agents are also at increased risk of basal cell and squamous cell cancers of the skin (these cancers are not tracked by the cancer registry used for this study). The findings are important because simple interventions , such as lip protector, sunscreen, large-brim hats, rash guard swim shirts, and avoiding times of the day when the sun is most intense, are likely to decrease the harmful effects of the sun for everyone, regardless of whether they are receiving a photosensitizing agent. When initiating use of photosensitizing agents for our patients , we need to remind them of these simple measures to avoid sun exposure.