Don’t Forget to Protect Your Lips

April 9th, 2008 · No Comments

Most of us are aware by now that we need to cover up with sunscreen or UV protective clothing when we’re outside to protect us from the sun’s damaging rays. Study after study tells us that this is the way to protect ourselves from skin cancer and other damage to our skin that the sun can cause.

So we slather on the sunscreen, wear a hat, put on our UV protective clothing, wear our rashguard shirts in the water and put on some shades thinking we’re covered, right?

Have you ever thought about your lips?

According to a recent study, less than 1-in-4 Americans wear some form of lip protection.

Many women wear lip gloss and lipstick thinking they’re covering and protecting their lips but researchers are now telling us this can be a costly mistake. In fact they say that certain lip balms and glosses can even increase your chances of developing skin cancer.

Experts the lips are not only more susceptible to aging from chronic sun damage, but are also more prone to developing serious cancers.

“When skin cancer occurs on the lower lip it has the potential to be much more aggressive and metastasize to surrounding lymph nodes,” says Christine Brown, M.D., dermatologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

“What most people don’t realize is they’re actually increasing light penetration through the lip surface by applying something clear and shiny to them,” explains Dr. Brown.

Dermatologists recommend that unless they have a layer of sun protection on underneath, women should avoid wearing glossy lipsticks in the sun altogether.

To protect your lips, Dr. Brown says the first thing you need to do is get a lip balm or a lip sunscreen that has an SPF of 30. You should apply it in the morning under any lipsticks or lip glosses and then reapply throughout the day just as you would a lip color.

So what are the signs you may have developed a skin cancer on your lip?

First of all, skin cancers are more likely to appear on the lower lip. If you have any changes to the color of the lip surface-if an area turns opaque or white-or if you have persistent peeling or flaking of a spot on your lip-you should have it checked by a dermatologist.

Remember, protecting your lips is just as important as wearing sunscreen on your face and body and wearing UV protective clothing such as a rash guard shirt.