ACTINIC CHEILITIS

ACTINIC CHEILITIS

What is it?

It’s one of the Potentially Malignant Mouth Diseases.

Most often it results from prolonged exposure to the sun. It mainly affects the lower lip has a slow evolution, but the changes are irreversible.

What are the symptoms?

• Lip dehydration.
• Cracked lips.
• Blurring of the boundary between lip and skin.
• Peeling. Lips may become rough.
• White lesions on the wet lip line.
• Crust or ulceration maintained.

What is the risk of malignant transformation?

The risk is high: 25% in 10 years of illness.

Can it be treated?

Yes.

The treatment goes through several stages:

• Prevention of evolution.
• Biopsy: if the lip changes such as becoming hardened, with crusts or persistent ulcerations and showing white spots on the wet line of the lip
• In more advanced cases: undergo surgery to the lower lip.
• There are some innovative treatments for this lip disease. Contact us to be informed of all the alternatives for your case!

If you've recently noticed these changes in your lips, don't waste your time and consult our Oral Medicine Team at Instituto Português da Face.