Lip gloss and skin cancer
You will see my blog on this at www.skinguru.com today. I wanted to share my thoughts as they only give me 250 words on Yahoo. The lips are the most common site of skin cancer. This occurs because most people forget to use sunscreen on the lips. (and it takes bad in many cases!) In addition, the lips do not have sebaceous glands so they do not make sebum which has vitamin E. Vitamin E is protective against cancer. If you have a rough scaled area on the lips that does not heal you need to get it biopsied. It is likely an early SCC (Squamous cell carcinoma).
We do not really know if SPF free lip gloss leads to skin cancer because no well designed studies have not been done. The main point here is that you need SPF protection for your lips too. Please comment on your favorite lip protecting products.
I like the lip kisses by Laura Mercier or the lip balm found here which I wear under my lip stick. http://www.lauramercier.com/products/colour/lips/lip_treatment/lip_balm/
What favorites do you have?
Have a great day!
Dr. Baumann
PS We have the others docs blogs AMOST ready. I hope they go up by Monday.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:56 am
My favorite lip protection is Chanel Aqualumiere lipstick - it has both UVA and UVB sunscreens, feels great, moisturizes and comes in a wide range of colors. I live in Florida so I carry one in my handbag every day all year.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:20 am
The Megal Gale Invisible Zinc Sunscreen (18% zinc oxide, no other sunscreens of any other shape or form) adheres to the lips extremely well, and I think it can enhance the look of the more transparent lipsticks, eg. “soleil” and “nature” Chanel lipsticks.
Does anyone remember the white lipsticks (and mascaras) from the 70s? Perhaps they could make a comeback!
I have been recommending the Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair for its silymarin, it’s easy and pleasant to use, although a few patients have mentioned that if they use this product and drink red wine, the red wine then stains their lips – a badge of resveratrol honour. It appears the product has some exfoliating effect, or at the least makes the lips more permeable.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I read the ingredients list and the Laura Mercier Lip balm only protects against UVB rays (no zinc dioxide, titanium dioxide or Avobenzone). I notice this with almost all lip balms.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I thought I had more of these. Now it is clear, many of the ones I believed to have sunscreen, do not have any kind of sun protection! The ones I have and like: Aveda Lip Tint SPF 15 (nice array of shades available), Aveda Lip Saver SPF 15 (color-free), and Alba TerraTints SPF 18.
Thank you, Dr. Baumann, for focusing attention on this issue. You’ve certainly raised my awareness of it and prompted me to take a close look at my lip products.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:13 am
I think listick provides better coverage than gloss. I use Chanel, MAC and YSL.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Kiehls makes a sunscreen stick that can be used udner eyes and on lips, doesnt seem to sting my eyes.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
My all time favorite that I have been using forever is Neutrogena lip balm spf15. I also love The Body Shop’s Vit. C & their Vit. E lip balm spf 15.
Bath & Body Works makes a new one called Watch Your Mouth that is also very good.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
It doesn’t appear to have SPF, but the lip conditioner I use and love is by Caudalie.