How do you protect your lips from the sun? Most women think their balms and glosses have got them covered, but experts from the Baylor University Medical Center say they're dangerously mistaken. Certain lip balms and glosses can actually increase your chances of developing a skin cancer. The increased risk stems from the fact that light penetration through the lip surface is increased by applying something clear and shiny to them. Christine Brown, a dermatologist at Baylor University Medical Center, said that when skin cancer occurs on the lower lip it has the potential to be much more aggressive, and unfortunately, many of us unknowingly attract the sun's rays to our lips by using balms and glosses. She advised that women should avoid wearing glossy lipsticks in the sun altogether unless they have a layer of sun protection on underneath.
To protect your lips, 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. She stressed that it was as important as wearing sunscreen on your face and body.
What are the signs that you may have developed a skin cancer on your lip? Brown said women should consult a dermatologist if any changes to the color of the lip surface occurred or if there was persistent peeling or flaking of a spot on the lip.
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Source: Baylor University Medical Center
