What's Going Around: Lipstick May Help Protect Lips From Sunburn
Some Types Of Lip Cancer Are Skin Cancer
Updated: 12:30 pm CDT May 20, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and many people might not realize that some types of lip cancer are considered skin cancer.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportA glance down the average cosmetic aisle will prove there are many lip products for women to choose from, but is there sun protection?"I tend to use a lot of lip gloss, some Chapstick," said Nicole Ruzinski. "It's kind of a secondary thought of 'Oh, it says SPF on the bottle.'"Researchers at Baylor University said shiny lip glosses put women at a higher risk for lip cancer."These authors are saying that if you put on something shiny that it's going to allow the sun to penetrate more deeply," said Dr. Robert McDonald, a dermatologist.But local dermatologists are convinced the findings are accurate."I wouldn't think too much about using lip gloss about either being good or bad," said McDonald. "It probably doesn't hurt you and it probably doesn't help you."McDonald said using a product with SPF is always beneficial."This lipstick, they call this a 15, but if you look at it, it's red. You can bet that's a 15," said McDonald. "You have to imagine if we put that lipstick on the glass, how much light would get through there, probably very little."McDonald said one of a woman's favorite beauty products most likely does protect her from the dangerous effects of squamous cell carcinoma."I don't think it's something you think about," said Ruzinski. "I think you think about more putting stuff on your face and the rest of your skin when you go to the beach, but you don't really think your lips can get chapped from the sun or get sunburned."Some signs of lip cancer include rough scaly lips, hard red lumps, or if bleeding spots become hard and crusty.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportA glance down the average cosmetic aisle will prove there are many lip products for women to choose from, but is there sun protection?"I tend to use a lot of lip gloss, some Chapstick," said Nicole Ruzinski. "It's kind of a secondary thought of 'Oh, it says SPF on the bottle.'"Researchers at Baylor University said shiny lip glosses put women at a higher risk for lip cancer."These authors are saying that if you put on something shiny that it's going to allow the sun to penetrate more deeply," said Dr. Robert McDonald, a dermatologist.But local dermatologists are convinced the findings are accurate."I wouldn't think too much about using lip gloss about either being good or bad," said McDonald. "It probably doesn't hurt you and it probably doesn't help you."McDonald said using a product with SPF is always beneficial."This lipstick, they call this a 15, but if you look at it, it's red. You can bet that's a 15," said McDonald. "You have to imagine if we put that lipstick on the glass, how much light would get through there, probably very little."McDonald said one of a woman's favorite beauty products most likely does protect her from the dangerous effects of squamous cell carcinoma."I don't think it's something you think about," said Ruzinski. "I think you think about more putting stuff on your face and the rest of your skin when you go to the beach, but you don't really think your lips can get chapped from the sun or get sunburned."Some signs of lip cancer include rough scaly lips, hard red lumps, or if bleeding spots become hard and crusty.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
