Eczema increases the risk of skin cancer.

Is it true that eczema increases the risk of skin cancer?

Partly. A systematic review and a US claims study report that atopic dermatitis/eczema is associated with modestly increased skin cancer risk, while a phototherapy cohort found no increased skin cancer risk in eczema patients and another claims study found lower risk for non-skin malignancies. The evidence is mixed and only partially covers the claim.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 2 sources for, 2 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Atopic Dermatitis and Skin Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-022-00720-2

Vleugels, R., Grada, A., Yue, E., Bunick, C., Galimberti, F., & Krueger, W. (2024). 681 - Risk of malignancy excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in the United States: a population-based study using claims data. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljae266.055

Lebwohl, M., Yue, E., Krueger, W., Berman, B., Bunick, C., Schlesinger, T., & Grada, A. (2024). 697 - Risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a United States population-based study using claims data. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljae266.071

Wang, E., Ahad, T., Liu, Y. A., Lee, T. K., Lui, H., Crawford, R. I., & Kalia, S. (2023). Incidence and Profile of Skin Cancers in Patients Following Ultraviolet Phototherapy Without Psoralens- a retrospective cohort study.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.11.053