The use of lip gloss has surged in popularity in recent years. People I know that use them are pretty much addicted to them. Like any addict they keep one in their car, one in their pocket, one in their purse, one in folds of the couch, one on the back of the toilet seat and the list goes on and on.
So it was with a sad heart that I saw a story on MSNBC’s website saying that lip gloss can increase your risk for skin cancer. In the article entitled “Not just lip service: Gloss can invite skin cancer”, they have establish a link between skin cancer and the use of lip gloss.
“These lip glosses can make more of the light rays penetrate directly through the skin instead of getting reflected off of the skin’s surface,” says Dr. Christine Brown,a dermatologist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas
Its estimated that each year there are about 3,500 new cases of skin cancer on the lips diagnosed each year. In relative terms, this isn’t that large a number, but its also nothing to sneeze at. Of those cases on the lips, about 90% of them are squamous cell carcinoma. This form of skin cancer isn’t one of the most serious, but its interesting to note that it acts much more aggressively on the lips than it does on other parts of the body. If not detected and treated early, it can cause disfigurement and in some cases can spread to other organs of the body and becoming deadly.
There are also some other effects that the use of lip gloss can have, which while not as serious, might be seen by users as even more reason to stay away.
All that sun exposure could be slowly building gross, non-cancerous disfigurements on your lips. One such effect is actinic keratosis, a small, scaly patch of skin that can morph into a wart-like bump if left untreated. Sun exposure can also cause small brown spots that look like freckles on the lips. The spots are noncancerous but could cause people to whisper, “Hey, you’ve got food on your lips.”
Sun damage can also cause premature aging, making the already thin skin on your lips even thinner, which can lead to rips and tears. Ultraviolet light zaps skin of much of its elasticity, leaving the skin lax. That lack of elasticity can prevent the upper and lower lips from lining up properly, which can cause pools of saliva to collect at the corners of the mouth.
Dermatologists say the reason these things happen is because of the extra moisture that is added to your lips through the use of lip gloss. What you think is keeping your lips looking at their optimal health, is really making them worse. Our lips are equipped with a harder outer layer that the lip gloss is squashing down and making thinner. This makes the outer layer easier for the UV rays to pass through and damage your lips.
What you can do to combat this is that instead of using a lip gloss, you can use a lip balm. These are available with SPF protection. Now it doesn’t give you the same attractive shine that a lip gloss gives you, but is that attractive shine really worth the risk? Another idea would be to have a hat with a wide enough brim that covers your lips. This way you could be protected when you were outside where the sun’s exposure can get you, but still have that shiny gloss when you step back inside.
Now the article does stress that none of this is definitive, there has not being a full study down to conclusively link lip gloss to an increase in skin cancer. It is an interesting notion though, and one that I do think warrants taking into serious consideration.
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