May 19, 2008 6:56 am US/Eastern
Unprotected Lips Susceptible To Cancer
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
It's the time of year to head out to the beach and spend time outdoors. Wearing sun block to prevent skin cancer is common knowledge, but that's not the only precaution needed to prevent another dangerous form of cancer.
A good sun block is a must for Lauren Fernandez. "Both my grandfather and grandmother have had skin cancer. Also, I see people who spend a lot of time in the sun who are aged so much."
Lauren gets kudos for taking care of her skin, but like most people, can forgets to protect her lips. Dr. Richard Wagner, a dermatologist, said that can be dangerous. Lips can be susceptible to cancer too. Especially one called squamous cell. Dr. Wagner explained "Lip can be more dangerous than skin cancer because it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body."
Dr. Christine Brown is also a dermatologist. She added "You take all patients across the board with lip cancer, their survival rate is 85 percent. But if it's caught late, and it's already spread to the lymph nodes, then the survival rate drops down to 50 percent."
Here's what can be confusing. Some products that are made for the lips can actually increase the chances of developing lip cancer. According to Dr. Brown, "By applying a clear shiny lip gloss to the surface of the lip, you are going to increase light penetration. The same way that you would by applying a tanning oil to the skin's surface."
It's recommended that you buy a product designed for the lips which has an SPF of at least 30. Dr. Wagner said "I recommend specialized lip products instead of regular sun screen for the lips, because the lip products tend to be stickier, and last longer."
It's also important to re-apply during the day because it might wear off when you eat or drink.
You don't have to give up a fashionable look, however. You can layer one product over another. Lauren said "I'll definitely think about putting a bottom layer of protection on my lips before I put anything else on them. I would definitely feel more comfortable."
And this isn't just a health concern for women. Men are also advised to protect their lips as well.
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