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Melanotic macules, or freckles, as we more commonly know them, are little brown spots on the skin. They can develop anywhere on the body, including on your lips, inside your lips, and on your gums.
If you have a mole around your upper lip it can bring luck to your bank balance. Not only that, it is also indicates promising success and good fortune. If you have a mole on your lower lip, it indicates that you love to gamble- no matter if love or money!
Dark marks on the lips can appear for many other reasons, often related to dryness or sun damage. In most cases, they don't mean there's a dangerous skin condition and are likely to go away on their own. Keep your lips hydrated to avoid "farmer's lip," persistent dryness of the lips due to longtime sun exposure.
Lip cancer often looks like a mouth sore that won't heal. In people with light skin, this sore may appear reddish. In people with darker skin, it may appear dark brown or gray. Lip cancer can look different for everyone, so if you notice something strange, you should call your healthcare provider for an appointment.
SCCs can appear as thick, rough, scaly patches that may crust or bleed. They can also resemble warts, or open sores that don't completely heal. Sometimes SCCs show up as growths that are raised at the edges with a lower area in the center that may bleed or itch.
Dark or black spots on lips are often caused by angiokeratoma of Fordyce. Although they can vary in color, size, and shape, they're usually dark red to black and wart-like. These spots are typically harmless. They can be found on any mucous-producing skin, not just lips.
When on the lip (usually the lower lip), it is called actinic cheilitis. Actinic keratoses are considered to be premalignant lesions as 1 in 100 cases per year will develop into squamous cell carcinoma. Moles that have started to itch or bleed or change in color or shape are also warning signs of possible melanoma.
Non-cancerous moles that live only on the surface of the skin can sometimes be removed by freezing them off. If you and your doctor decide freezing is the best method to remove your mole, your doctor will use liquid nitrogen to freeze it off. You may end up with a small blister on your skin where the mole used to be.
Lip pimples can be caused by lipstick, sweat, poor diet, and hormonal changes. If you have a lip pimple, don't squeeze it, apply salicylic acid, and use a warm compress. If you get acne frequently, talk to your dermatologist about getting prescription acne medication.
Your lesion may have a similar appearance to a freckle on your lip or mouth. Sometimes they appear on their own (solitary) or in groups. If this condition occurs in your mouth, it's known as an oral melanotic macule, whereas on your lip, it's known as a labial melanotic macule.
A cancerous mole, or melanoma, is the result of damage to DNA in skin cells. These changes, or mutations, to the genes can result in cells growing rapidly and out of control. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs when pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes mutate and begin to divide uncontrollably.
It's thought to be an interaction of genetic factors and sun damage in most cases. Moles usually emerge in childhood and adolescence, and change in size and color as you grow. New moles commonly appear at times when your hormone levels change, such as during pregnancy. Most moles are less than 1/4 inch in diameter.
Melanoma, which is more aggressive than squamous cell carcinoma, can also develop on the lips. Learn more about melanoma treatment. Using tobacco products, regularly drinking too much alcohol, and spending prolonged periods of time in the sun can increase your chances of developing lip cancer.
Stage 1: The cancer is up to 2 millimeters (mm) thick. It has not yet spread to lymph nodes or other sites, and it may or may not be ulcerated. Stage 2: The cancer is at least 1 mm thick but may be thicker than 4 mm. It may or may not be ulcerated, and it has not yet spread to lymph nodes or other sites.
In Stage I melanoma, the cancer cells are in both the first and second layers of the skin—the epidermis and the dermis. A melanoma tumor is considered Stage I if it is up to 2 mm thick, and it may or may not have ulceration. There is no evidence the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or distant sites (metastasis).
Oral nevi are small brown, bluish gray, or almost black dots that can appear inside your mouth. Nevi is a medical term for moles (nevus is singular). Oral nevi are usually slightly raised. They're more common on the roof of the mouth or inner lip, but they can also form on the cheeks.
Darkening of the lips can be the result of hyperpigmentation. This is a typically harmless condition caused by an excess of melanin. Lip hyperpigmentation may be caused by: excessive exposure to the sun. lack of hydration.
Skin discoloration around the mouth is caused by excess melanin production in your skin. Hormonal changes, medications, and sun exposure are related to hyperpigmentation. Nutritional deficiencies, skin trauma, and other medical conditions may also cause skin discoloration.
Fast-growing warts with uneven edges might be an early sign of melanoma. The border of the mole might also be scalloped or notched.
Squamous cell carcinoma initially appears as a skin-colored or light red nodule, usually with a rough surface. They often resemble warts and sometimes resemble open bruises with raised, crusty edges. The lesions tend to develop slowly and can grow into a large tumor, sometimes with central ulceration.
The lymphatic drainage of both the upper and lower lips is primarily to the submandibular group of lymph nodes. To a lesser extent, drainage may go to submental intraparotid, or internal jugular lymph nodes.
Most moles appear in individuals during their 20s, though some may appear later in life and some may be present at birth. The number of moles peak in individuals during their 30s and have a tendency to decrease in number thereafter.
Normal moles
A normal mole is usually an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised.