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Lip Lesions & Lip Skin Cancer

From cold sores to sun-damage changes: the common causes of lip lesions, the warning features that deserve a professional look, and how lip skin cancer is treated.

The lips — especially the lower lip — cop a lot of sun. Because the skin of the lip is thin and lacks the pigment protection of ordinary skin, it is one of the more common sites for sun damage and, in some people, skin cancer. Most lip lesions are harmless, but a sore on the lip that will not settle deserves professional assessment.

Common (Usually Harmless) Lip Lesions

  • Cold sores (herpes labialis) — clusters of small blisters that tingle, break and crust, settling within 1–2 weeks and recurring in the same spot
  • Angular cheilitis — soreness and cracking at the corners of the mouth, often linked to irritation or infection
  • Mucocele — a soft bluish lump on the inner lip from a blocked salivary gland, common after minor biting injury
  • Fordyce spots — tiny yellow-white dots on the lip border; a normal anatomical variant

Sun Damage & Pre-Cancerous Change

Solar cheilitis is long-term UV damage to the lower lip: the lip becomes dry, thickened, pale or blotchy, with loss of the normal sharp border and fine vertical lines. It is the lip's version of actinic keratosis — and like actinic keratosis elsewhere, a small proportion of severe cases can progress to squamous cell carcinoma over time. Persistent scaling, thickening or discrete sores on the lower lip should be assessed.

Warning Features of Lip Skin Cancer

✗ See a doctor if a lip lesion:

  • Persists beyond 4 weeks without healing
  • Ulcerates, crusts, or bleeds repeatedly
  • Is a firm, growing lump — sometimes with a sensation of thickness
  • Has numbness or tingling of the lip

✓ Higher-risk backgrounds

  • Long-term outdoor sun exposure (farmers, builders, fishermen, surfers)
  • Fair skin, male sex, and age over 50
  • Smoking
  • Previous skin cancers on the face

Assessment & Treatment

Assessment starts with a careful examination of the lips and surrounding skin, usually with dermoscopy; suspicious lesions are sampled (biopsy) for an exact diagnosis. Treatment depends on the diagnosis:

  • Pre-cancerous sun damage may be managed with field treatments, including photodynamic therapy (PDT)
  • Lip skin cancers are usually treated with surgical excision using margin-controlled techniques, so that clearance is confirmed while normal lip shape and function are preserved

If you have a lip lesion you are unsure about — especially one that has been there more than four weeks — book a professional assessment. Lip checks are part of every full-body skin check at our clinic.

This page provides general educational information only. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace individual medical advice. If you are concerned about a lesion, please book a professional skin assessment.

Related Information & Services

Concerned about a spot or lesion?

Skin Cancer Laser Centre, Drummoyne — opening Monday 2 November 2026. Book a professional skin check with our doctors.

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