Lip balm SHOULD be addictive, not just because it makes lips more kissable !
It’s often not realised that lips and tops of ears are both sites at risk for cancer caused by sun exposure. Balms are available which moisturise and also include a sun protection factor ( SPF ).
Sun, alcohol, tobacco, human papilloma virus (HPV), male gender, age over 40, and fair skin are the main risk factors for developing lip and other types of oral cancer, which are uncommon but not rare, and increasing in frequency.
Early lip cancers may have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, the most common finding is a sore ( ulcer ) that will not heal, usually on the lower lip. A biopsy may just show sun damaged skin, but that is an “ early warning “.
When diagnosed early, lip cancer has an excellent outlook and can usually be cured by surgical excision.
