Exceptional Dentistry LV Blog

Monday, June 21, 2010

Use Lip Balm with SPF

Today is the first official day of summer, with summer comes lots of sun and outdoor activities. Now everybody knows that when they are out in the sun to use sunscreen, but what most people forget to use in lip balm that has SPF inside it. There are several lip balms out there, but not all have SPF which is what will help protect your lips from the UV rays of the sun.

Your lips are a very sensitive area of skin that needs to be protected. There are two main reasons people will get skin cancer on the lip area; smoking a pipe and sun exposure. The most common type of skin cancer due to sun exposure is Squamous Cell Carcinoma. According to the American Academy of Dermatology the cure rate is 95%, however, if left untreated can destroy much of the tissue surrounding the tumor and can result in loss of the entire lip. Tumors that reach 3/4 to 1 inch in size can develop in to large masses, and have the potential to metastasize. In really aggressive cases, the tumor can spread to the lymph nodes, especially if it begins on the lip or ear.

Signs to looks for on the lips are persistent sores, non healing ulcerations, bumps, or thickening skin on the lower lip. If you are experiencing these symptoms you should see your dermatologist. Your dentist should also examine your oral tissues for cancer a least one time per year.

So make sure to have fun this summer, and make sure you have SPF in your lip balm!

posted by Exceptional Dentistry at 4:13 PM