Can You Get Skin Cancer On Your Lips

S Of Squamous Cell Carcinoma On The Skin

The following pictures show many of the ways that SCC can appear on the skin.

Rough-feeling, reddish patch

This is an early sign of squamous cell carcinoma.

Round growth with raised borders

This squamous cell carcinoma developed from a pre-cancerous growth called an actinic keratosis.

A sore that wont heal or heals and returns

On the skin or lips, squamous cell carcinoma can look like a sore.

Age spot

This can be a sign of squamous cell carcinoma, which is why you want a board-certified dermatologist to examine your skin before you treat any age spot.

Raised, round growth

This is a common sign of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Animals horn

When squamous cell carcinoma looks like this, it tends to grow quickly.

Because this common skin cancer can begin on any part of the body that has squamous cells, it can also develop inside the mouth, on the genitals, inside the anus, or in the tissue beneath a fingernail or toenail.

In these areas, this skin cancer may look like a:

• Sore or rough patch

• Brown or black line beneath a nail

Sore inside your mouth

This squamous cell carcinoma started inside the mouth and grew to cover a larger area.

Dark streak beneath a nail

Squamous cell carcinoma can look like a brown or black line beneath a nail, as shown here.

When it develops around the nail, it can look like a wart that just wont go away. If youve had a wart around a fingernail for years, its time for a dermatologist to examine it.

Can I Get Skin Cancer On My Lip

Just like any other area of the body, you can get cancer on your lips. A common type of cancer is squamous cell carcinomas, which occurs frequently on the lips, as well as on the nose and ears. This type of cancer is normally curable when it’s detected and treated early, but it may come back even after it’s been treated.

It’s possible, however, to take some steps toward prevention. For starters, stay out of direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, avoid tanning, wear clothing that completely covers your body and use a sunscreen with an sun protection factor of 15 or higher every day .

Skin cancer is fairly common when compared to other types of cancer. In fact, an estimated 10 million Americans have actinic keratosis, which leads to squamous cell carcinoma in about one out of every 10 cases . The condition shows up as a scaly or crusty growth, called a lesion, and it can be found on the lips, as well as other areas of the body that are exposed to the sun. Actinic keratosis can lead to any form of skin cancer, not just squamous cell carcinoma. In its earliest stages, cancer on the lip area may appear as a sore that doesn’t heal .

The next time you’re putting on sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful ultraviolet rays and to help ward off skin cancer, don’t forget your lips. For lots more information, see the links on the following page.

How Is Mouth Cancer Diagnosed

Knowing what does mouth cancer look like is not enough for diagnosis. The following tests and procedures are done to diagnose mouth cancer.

Staging Mouth Cancer

The stages of mouth cancer are indicated through roman numerals I to IV with I indicating a lower stage mouth cancer and IV indicating a higher stage mouth cancer. Knowledge of the stage of mouth cancer you are suffering from will help the dentist in deciding which treatment options would work for you.

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Managing Dry Socket Pain

The primary treatment for a dry socket is pain management. In addition to the dry socket paste, your dentist may prescribe painkillers and send you home with directions on using ice packs and rinse gently with a saltwater solution. You still need to maintain good oral hygiene, so be particularly careful when using a toothbrush.

Reduce Your Risk Of Skin Cancer

Limit your exposure to the suns ultraviolet rays, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the suns rays are strongest. While outdoors, liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher , wear a hat and sunglasses, and cover up with clothing. And remember, if you notice changes to your skin such as a new growth, a mole changing appearance, or a sore that wont heal, see a doctor right way.

Did you know at every routine checkup at Smile Ballard, Dr. Curalli and his hygienists check for signs of skin cancer on the lips and around the mouth? Just another good reason to stay up on your dental check-ups! Be sure to call Smile Ballard, your Seattle Ballard dental office, at 206-784-6310 to schedule your checkup today!

2 Responses to “Keep those lips covered! How To Protect Against Skin Cancer”

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Wait You Can Get Skin Cancer On Your Lips What Does That Skin Cancer Look Like

You can most definitely get skin cancer on your lips. The most significant risk from sunburned lips is of developing skin cancer, says Poelman. Squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, is most commonly found on lips and looks like a hard, white bump that can be tender.

One warning sign that should send you straight to your derms office is if you develop something called actinic keratosis , which is like a pre-skin cancer. Its step one before squamous cell carcinoma, says Poelman. Actinic keratosis looks like a whiteish scale on your lips that doesnt go away with lip balm or prescription ointments.

Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer. Though its rarer to get melanoma on your lips, its still possible especially if you forgo SPF to your lips. Typically, melanoma presents itself as a brownish, irregularly sized freckle and you should get it checked out by a medical professional once you notice it.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma On The Lip

It came to pass the same as all of my many squamous cell carcinomas. A tiny piece of flakey skin was the tell-tale sign. It was so long ago I dont remember exactly how it played out. I imagine that I noticed it, rather than my dermatologist pointing it out on a skin check. It probably flaked, then fell off, then flaked again. I would have gotten a biopsy that showed it was a squamous cell carcinoma requiring Mohs surgery.

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How Is Lip Cancer Treated

Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are just some of the treatments available for lip cancer. Other possible options include targeted therapy and investigative treatments, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy.

As with other cancers, treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, how far its progressed , and your general health.

If the tumor is small, surgery is typically performed to remove it. This involves removal of all tissue involved with the cancer, plus reconstruction of the lip .

If the tumor is larger or at a later stage, radiation and chemotherapy may be used to shrink the tumor before or after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence. Chemotherapy treatments deliver drugs throughout the body and reduce the risk of the cancer spreading or returning.

For people who smoke, quitting smoking before treatment can improve treatment outcomes.

Mouth Cancer Is A Serious Medical Problem That Can Even Cause Death Knowing What Mouth Cancer Look Like Can Help You In Diagnosing It At An Earlier Stage

According to the American Cancer Society, this year is going to see more than 36,000 people getting diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer and mouth cancer, out of which approximately 6,850 will die because of it. Any working part of the mouth can get affected by oral cancer including your gums, teeth, lips, roof of mouth, floor of the mouth located under the tongue, tissue lining your cheeks, lips and throat.

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What Causes Lip Cancer

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, many cases of oral cancer are linked to tobacco use and heavy alcohol use.

Sun exposure is also a major risk factor, especially for people who work outdoors. This is because theyre more likely to have prolonged sun exposure.

Your behaviors and lifestyle heavily influence your risk for lip cancer. Approximately 40,000 people receive diagnoses of oral cancer each year. Factors that may increase your risk for lip cancer include:

• smoking or using tobacco products
• heavy alcohol use
• having human papillomavirus , a sexually transmitted infection
• being older than 40 years of age

The majority of oral cancers are linked to tobacco use. The risk is even higher for people who use both tobacco and drink alcohol, compared with those who use only one of the two.

Signs and symptoms of lip cancer include:

• a sore, lesion, blister, ulcer, or lump on the mouth that doesnt go away
• a red or white patch on the lip
• bleeding or pain on the lips
• swelling of the jaw

Lip cancer may not have any symptoms. Dentists often first notice lip cancer during a routine dental exam. If you have a sore or lump on your lips, it doesnt necessarily mean you have lip cancer, though. Discuss any symptoms with your dentist or doctor.

Invasive Squamous Cell Cancer Of The Vulva

Almost all women with invasive vulvar cancers will have symptoms. These can include:

• An area on the vulva that looks different from normal it could be lighter or darker than the normal skin around it, or look red or pink.
• A bump or lump, which could be red, pink, or white and could have a wart-like or raw surface or feel rough or thick
• Thickening of the skin of the vulva
• Itching
• Bleeding or discharge not related to the normal menstrual period
• An open sore

Verrucous carcinoma, a subtype of invasive squamous cell vulvar cancer, looks like cauliflower-like growths similar to genital warts.

These symptoms are more often caused by other, non-cancerous conditions. Still, if you have these symptoms, you should have them checked by a doctor or nurse.

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After Lip And Oral Cavity Cancer Has Been Diagnosed Tests Are Done To Find Out If Cancer Cells Have Spread Within The Lip And Oral Cavity Or To Other Parts Of The Body

The process used to find out if cancer has spread within the lip and oral cavity or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment. The results of the tests used to diagnose lip and oral cavity cancer are also used to stage the disease.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The first sign of an SCC is usually a thickened, red, scaly spot thatdoesnt heal. You are most likely to find an SCC on the back of your hands,forearms, legs, scalp, ears or lips. If its on your lips, it can look like asmall ulcer or patch of scaly skin that doesnt go away.

An SCC may also look like:

• a crusted sore
• a sore or rough patch inside your mouth
• a red, raised sore around your anus or genitals

An SCC will probably grow quickly over several weeks or months.

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Less Common Skin Cancers

Uncommon types of skin cancer include Kaposi’s sarcoma, mainly seen in people with weakened immune systems sebaceous gland carcinoma, an aggressive cancer originating in the oil glands in the skin and Merkel cell carcinoma, which is usually found on sun-exposed areas on the head, neck, arms, and legs but often spreads to other parts of the body.

There Are Three Ways That Cancer Spreads In The Body

Cancer can spread through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood:

• Tissue. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into nearby areas.
• Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
• Blood. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.

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Health & Wellnessthe Big Mistake People Make When Applying Sunscreen To Their Face

People may not think about the area around the lip as much when they put on sunscreen, Chi said, so the lips can be vulnerable. The type of sunblock they use can also determine how much coverage they get. A recent study found people do a worse job applying an SPF moisturizer to their face than a traditional sunscreen, missing more skin.

After her diagnosis, French just wanted to have the spot removed. So, in the summer of 2016, she underwent Mohs micrographic surgery, a procedure to remove all cancerous tissue while keeping as much healthy skin as possible. Doctors had to take out a quarter-sized lesion, then reconstructed that area of her face.

French kind of freaked out when she saw how much flesh had to be taken out and the recovery was painful. But shes happy with how the surgery turned out, relieved that the cancer is gone and pleasantly surprised by how well her lip has healed. Just a tiny hard-to-see scar remains.

She now puts on more sunscreen and wears a hat whenever she spends time outdoors in the sun, she said.

Are Recurring Cold Sores A Sign Of Cancer

Recurring cold sores are a sign that the triggers are an ongoing problem in your day-to-day life. In the big picture, recurrent infections are a byproduct of the herpes virus being activated in some way. It is not a sign or increased threat of cancer of the lip.

While regular sore and painful lip blisters can be alarming, multiple cold sore outbreaks have a life independent of each other. Every fever blister outbreak is unique and different. Whether you have one or 25, your situation has nothing to do with lip cancer. Cold sores are not a symbolic precursor to other lip-related health concerns.

If you dont spend time in the sun and havent used tobacco, the likelihood of developing lip cancer are small. However, if you are engaged in the dating scene the odds of acquiring HSV-1 are quite high. Primarily transferred during a kiss, as many as 80% of the population has HSV-1.

If you have a lip blister that is not responding to OTC treatment, we urge you to visit a physician as soon as possible. The majority of untreated cold sores will go away on their own within two weeks. When treated, theyll clear up in just days.

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Lip Cancer Prevention And Treatment

The best prevention is to examine your lips and report any changes in the skin, such as lip color changes, sores, or growths, to your dentist or physician as soon as possible.

According to the Mayo Clinic, two treatments are common with this type of cancer. The first is to surgically remove the patch or sore and remove some surrounding tissue to ensure all cancerous cells are gone.

The second form of treatment is radiation therapy. This process applies safe sources of radiation to kill the cancer cells in your mouth. Your dentist should thoroughly examine the rest of your mouth for issues with your gums and teeth and treat those first before radiation therapy.

Lip cancer can be treated and often cured if diagnosed early, so examine your lips regularly for appearance changes. Then report those changes to your dentist or physician as soon as possible. With early detection and quick treatment, lip cancer can be eliminated.

Cancer May Spread From Where It Began To Other Parts Of The Body

When cancer spreads to another part of the body, it is called metastasis. Cancer cells break away from where they began and travel through the lymph system or blood.

• Lymph system. The cancer gets into the lymph system, travels through the lymph vessels, and forms a tumor in another part of the body.
• Blood. The cancer gets into the blood, travels through the blood vessels, and forms a tumor in another part of the body.

The metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if lip cancer spreads to the lung, the cancer cells in the lung are actually lip cancer cells. The disease is metastatic lip cancer, not lung cancer.

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