Shampoo isn’t cause of man’s cancer

Dear Dr. Roach: My 61-year-old husband has had 24 squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) surgeries on his scalp in the past five years. He has used dandruff shampoo for the past 36 years or more. Do you know of any correlation between using dandruff shampoo and skin cancer on your scalp?

J.M.

Answer: The major risk factor for a squamous cell cancer is ultraviolet light. The scalp is naturally one of the places most affected by the sun.

I think the answer to your question is that it isn’t the dandruff shampoo giving him additional risk, it’s the condition for which he uses the shampoo. Any kind of inflammatory condition of the scalp — such as seborrheic dermatitis, the most common cause of dandruff — increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

For your husband, using sun protection (i.e., wearing a hat) is critical to reduce further risk.

Dear Dr. Roach: I was recently admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay due to tachycardia. I had no symptoms, like pain or shortness of breath. It was discovered that I had a urinary tract infection. My cardiologist thinks that the UTI is the cause of my irregular heartbeat. But days after completing a regimen of antibiotics and being on beta blockers, my heart rate remains at approximately 120 beats per minute. What could be the issue?

B.M.

Answer: A fast and irregular heartbeat raises the suspicion for atrial fibrillation, but your cardiologist would certainly have discussed that. Maybe you meant just that your heartbeat was too fast but not irregular. A normal rhythm that is too fast is a condition called inappropriate sinus tachycardia.

It seems to me more investigation is called for, including taking a repeat urine test, getting a complete blood count to look for anemia, and a looking at your thyroid. Another possibility is POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), where the fast heart rate occurs when changing to an upright position.

Finally, some people with COVID-19 have a fast heart rate as a long-term complication after the infection.