Skin conditions are commonly found on the lips. They can be on or surrounding the lips and be anything from a lesion to an excess hair problem. For most people these conditions are not trivial and although sometimes treating these conditions can be challenging, new effective therapies are emerging.
Below is a list of some potential lip conditions and how they can be treated:
HAIR PROBLEMS
Hirsutism is a condition of excessive hair that can occur on the skin of the lips. A new, convenient therapy for upper lip hair is topical eflornithine 13.9% cream (Vaniqa®). Eflornithine 13.9% cream inhibits ornithine decarboxylase, an enzyme that has been associated with hair growth, so it retards hair growth
Alopecia areata results in the loss of hair, including facial hair. For the most part, there is no effective therapy for this condition.
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BENIGN AND MALIGNANT TUMORS
Benign and malignant tumors are usually easy to recognise by your physician:
Vascular lesions presenting with friable, bleeding tumors are mostly pyogenic granulomas (A common skin growth that is usually relatively small and red, with oozing and bleeding). They may follow local injury on the lips and can be treated with cryotherapy, electrodessication, or excision.
Venous lakes are common in the older population. The dark purple color of the tumor can sometimes be confused with melanoma.
Multiple small, vascular lesions on the lips are seen in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber disease). There may be a family history of the disease and a history of frequent nose bleeds. Similar appearing telangiectasias (dilated blood vessels near the surface of your skin) are found on the lips in individuals with primary biliary cirrhosis.
A solitary, brown, flat lesion that insidiously appears can raise the question of melanoma. However, if it is symmetrical in shape and uniform in color, it is probably a benign lesion.
Malignant tumors, especially squamous cell carcinomas, require prompt surgery; there is a higher rate of metastases (spreading to other areas of your body) for squamous cell carcinoma on the lip.
Visit Skin Cancer treatment and care patient guide to learn more
PRECANCEROUS LESIONS
Most precancerous lesions are actinic keratoses also known as “AKs”. These lesions have rough, scaly surfaces and a history of intermittent sloughing and reforming. Therapy includes: Also you can read about “before and after aging lips” here
cryotherapy
photodynamic therapy (PDT)
topical flourouracil 5% cream ((e.g., Carac).®)
imiquimod 5% cream (Aldara®)
INFLAMMATORY LESIONS
Inflammatory conditions involving the skin and mucosal surfaces can be seen at any age. Perioral dermatitis is a reaction on the skin surrounding the mouth that causes papules (small circumscribed, superficial elevations of the skin), papulovesicles (small semisolid skin elevations that evolve into a blister), and pustules (a vesicle with an inflamed base that contains pus) without comedones (blackheads). It can affect children, but most commonly it is seen in adult females. Its etiology includes a hereditary tendency to develop hypersensitivity reactions such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever or asthma, reactions to cosmetic products, and use of fluorinated topical corticosteroids, including inhaled agents. Therapy involves discontinuing corticosteroids, using metronidazole (MetroCream® or Noritate®) or tetracycline or erythromycin.
