I’m 24 and I’ve always had chapped lips through out my entire life. Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer. Potential complications of actinic cheilitis include: Anyone with symptoms of actinic cheilitis should talk with a doctor to rule out additional complications. UV-A rays of sunlight change the DNA of specialized cells in the lips called keratinocytes . Remember, keep the treated area covered with ointment at all times. The way sun damage to the lips unfolds is through the accumulation of DNA damage. Left untreated, some AKs may progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). I told her I thought she was wrong, but she told me to use AquaPhor. Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a lip inflammation caused by long-term sunlight exposure. It is also referred to by other names such as solar keratosis, pre-cancerous spots, and sun spots. If AC isn’t treated, it could turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Actinic cheilitis is a lesion of the lip that is analogous to actinic keratosis. For most people, it takes years of intense sun exposure to cause AC. Actinic cheilitis symptoms associated with skin cancer include: Actinic cheilitis will require a skin biopsy. All rights reserved. Materials and methods Fluorouracil cream was prescribed for 14 consecutive days with the establishment of clinical and histopathological diagnosis of actinic cheilitis. Treatment is usually effective at removing AC, but it’s still important to limit your time in the sun or take precautions to protect yourself. Of those affected, around 10 percent will develop cancer. The frequency of checkups will be informed by the severity of the condition, the treatment used, and the dermatologist’s recommendation. I really didn’t care, though, because my lips were never chapped *that badly*. Also, between 15 and 35 percent of carcinomas caused by actinic cheilitis spread to other tissues. Conclusion. Wear a hat with a wide brim that shades your face. Actinic cheilitis and other pre-cancerous lesions often start out small in size and grow throughout development. Request PDF | Therapeutic approaches for actinic cheilitis: therapeutic efficacy and malignant transformation after treatment | Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a sun-induced premalignant lesion. • Topical (5-fluorouracil [5-FU]) as a 5% solution was used to treat isolated actinic keratoses of the lips as well as diffuse actinic damage of the lower lip. Laser resurfacing: This may be a treatment option for actinic cheilitis, a precancerous growth on the lip. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of actinic cheilitis cases lead to malignant carcinoma within 20 years of diagnosis. Learn more about skin cancer and how to protect yourself. AC is caused by long-term sun exposure. AC can also be removed through electrosurgery. For chronic cases, it may take months for the symptoms to go away. loss of the demarcation between the lower lip and surrounding skin, fissuring or skin breakage and separation, more noticeable or prominent lip folds or lines, actinic cheilitis with histological atypia, intraepidermal carcinoma, also known as squamous cell carcinoma in situ or Bowen disease, continuously enlarging raised skin patches, skin dysplasia, also called abnormal skin cell growth, inflammation in the dermis or the layer of skin tissue just below the top layer, atrophy, also known as cell shrinkage, causing the skin to appear wrinkled, laser ablation, where a laser removes the outer layers of sun-damaged skin, cryotherapy, where the affected patches of skin are frozen off, vermilionectomy, where the outer layer of the lip is surgically removed, electrocautery, where an electrical current is used to remove the abnormal patch, applying sunscreen to the body and face daily, even if not spending a long time outside, applying lip balms or moisturizers that contain sunscreen, frequently throughout the day, especially when in the sun, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and light, long-sleeved clothing in the sun, growing a beard or mustache in the case of men, avoiding creams, facial washes, and medications that thin the skin, using extra caution in the sun when on immunosuppressing or anti-inflammatory medications, keeping hydrated, especially when in the sun. Actinic cheilitis will most often start out with dry, chapped lips. It causes inflammation and swelling of lips and this disease is similar to that of actinic keratosis which is marked by skin rash caused by exposure to sunlight. Learn all…. Topical 5-Fluorouracil. AC may be painless, but it can lead to squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated. Chronic patches need to be protected from the sun at all times. Applying lip balm or other products that contain allergen and may cause irritations 3. Actinic cheilitis, also known as actinic cheilosis, is a precancerous lesion on the borders of the lip. Sun protection tips for the lips include: Other ways to reduce the risk of developing actinic cheilitis include: Last medically reviewed on August 28, 2017, People can treat nausea in various ways, which include taking medication and eating foods that are easier to digest. Angular cheilitis is a condition that causes red, swollen patches in the corners of your mouth where your lips meet and make an angle. You should see a doctor if you notice this type of patch on your lip. It can also be developed into cancer so it needs proper medical treatment. A doctor should examine the lips soon after symptoms begin to establish a baseline and monitor the progression. The radiation is potent enough to stimulate chemical reaction in the body particularly the cutaneous tissues which may lead to subsequent photobiological changes. Wound Care After CO2 Laser Surgery for Actinic Cheilitis General Instructions You may bathe or shower after 24 hours. This will almost always be on the lower lip. After a healing period of 45 days from the end of treatment with fluorouracil, a new biopsy was performed to compare the features before and after … These can be very painful and uncomfortable symptoms. It is often caused by chronic sun exposure and damage. This was mainly due to my habit of picking dead skin off my lips and using lip balm seldomly . Porokeratosis refers to a group of skin conditions that typically appear as small patches with a raised edge. It usually appears as very chapped lips, then may turn white or scaly. After the healing process, many patients experience good cosmetic results. The system breaks down food, extracts nutrients…. Lip showed partial remission of cheilitis, with decrease of the thickness of the leukoplakic areas. Treatments for actinic keratoses include: prescription creams and gels; freezing the patches (cryotherapy), this makes the patches turn into blisters and fall off after a few weeks; surgery to cut out or scrape away the patches – you will be given a local anaesthetic first, so it does not hurt This causes the affected skin to blister and peel off, and allow new skin to form. These are done to remove or destroy the lesion. After a very long time, actinic cheilitis can cause a form of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. People who spend a lot of time outside, such as landscapers, fishermen, or professional outdoor athletes, are most likely to develop AC. There was no significant statistical change among the values of Ki‐67, survivin, and p53 observed before and after treatment. Chronic sun damage is often the cause of actinic cheilitis. For utmost sun protection, use your sunscreen before the stated expiration date…, Deodorant allergy is a reaction to antiperspirant or deodorant. Therefore, most cases of AC are treated. Do not soak the wound. If you don’t have a dermatologist, your primary care doctor can refer you to one if necessary. These discolored or scaly patches of skin are almost always painless. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional, every couple of months to once or twice per year, COVID-19: Acute brain dysfunction in ICU patients, Coffee consumption associated with lower risk of prostate cancer, Future coronavirus vaccines may harness nanoparticles, To thrive in lockdown, keep looking forward. Actinic cheilitis occurs when these abnormalities cause dry, scaly patches to form on the border of the lip. 2.Granulomatous Cheilitis: Granulomatous Cheilitis are swollen lips. Because it’s impossible to tell what AC patches will develop into skin cancer, all AC cases should be treated with medication or surgery. Staying out of the sun as much as possible is the best prevention for AC. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) With Levulan and Blue Light for the Treatment of Actinic Cheilitis. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Most of the cases of actinic keratosis happen in people who are light skinned. Figure 1: Case 2, (A) initial aspect of actinic cheilitis pretreatment showing blurred demarcation of the vermilion border and skin, (B) leukoplakia area, (C) immediate aspect of the lower lip post-treatment period showing extensive ulceration area and (D) final appearance of the lower lip after 45 days of followup. It is a premalignant condition, as it can develop into squamous cell carcinoma (a type of mouth cancer Signs and symptoms. Learn more about skin cancer and how to protect yourself. Other treatments. After treatment, the skin will feel raw and sore. It is not known exactly how often this condition may eventuate into squamous cell carcinoma, but the concern is certainly present. In rare cases they may come back. About 90 percent of cases involve the lower lip, although the condition can also develop on the upper lip. If you burn or freckle easily in the sun, or have a history of skin cancer, you might also be more likely to develop AC. In this procedure, your doctor destroys the AC tissue using an electric current. What Causes Sunken Cheeks and Can They Be Treated? For acute cases, the affected patches can heal after following these treatment rules for a few days or weeks. Actinic cheilitis is cheilitis (lip inflammation) caused by long term sunlight exposure. You should see a doctor if you notice this type of patch on your lip. One is cryotherapy, in which your doctor freezes the AC patch by coating it in liquid nitrogen. Actinic cheilitis grade IV, before (a) and after (b) 180 days of diclofenac topical application. What should a person take to reduce nausea? Topical 5-fluorouracil is a chemotherapy medication applied to the lips as a treatment for actinic cheilitis. Surgical treatments like cryosurgery, vermilionectomy, and laser ablation therapy cause scars and wounds on lips. Avoiding excessive or long-term unprotected sun exposure is the best way to prevent actinic cheilitis. Oral frenectomies are relatively simple, quick in-office procedures. Some medical conditions can make it more likely that you’ll develop AC. As with actinic keratoses, it is widely accepted that this lesion is due to excessive sun exposure ( Glogau, 2000 ). In more serious cases the lips can develop ulcers on them. They’re also at an increased risk for AC leading to skin cancer. Actinic cheilitis lesions before and at 2 months after treatment with photodynamic therapy are illustrated in the figures 1 and 2. People with lighter skin tones are also more likely to develop AC, especially those who live in sunny climates. Most actinic keratoses can be treated and cured.