Moles can appear on various parts of the body, including the lips. While many moles on the lips are harmless, some may indicate a need for medical attention. Understanding the characteristics of lip moles helps in determining when professional evaluation is advisable. Awareness of their appearance and potential changes is important for health.
Understanding Lip Moles
Moles form when melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing pigment, grow in clusters. These pigmented spots can develop on the lips, similar to other areas of the skin. Sun exposure can promote the development of moles. Lip moles vary in appearance, often presenting as flat or slightly raised spots. Their color can range from brown to black, or sometimes be skin-colored.
One common type of benign lip mole is a labial melanotic macule, which resembles a freckle on the lip. This macule typically appears as a well-defined, oval, brown to black, flat patch, often on the central third of the lower lip. Labial melanotic macules are generally small, ranging from 1 to 8 millimeters in size, and are considered harmless.
Another type, a venous lake, is a small, enlarged vein that usually looks like a soft, compressible blue or purple lesion. Venous lakes commonly occur on the lower lip, can be 2 to 10 millimeters wide, and may flatten or disappear temporarily when pressed; these are also benign and are often associated with long-term sun exposure.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Changes in a lip mole are the primary reason to seek medical advice. Healthcare professionals often use the ABCDEs of melanoma to evaluate suspicious moles, which can be adapted for lip moles:
- Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.
- Border: Irregular edges that are notched, blurred, or ragged.
- Color: Variation within the mole, showing uneven shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue.
- Diameter: Larger than 6 millimeters, roughly the size of a pencil eraser.
- Evolving: Any change in the mole’s size, shape, color, or elevation.
Other symptoms that suggest a mole needs evaluation include bleeding, itching, pain, or tenderness. A sore on the lip that does not heal, or a crusty area, should also prompt a visit to a healthcare provider. New moles appearing in adulthood should always be examined. Lip cancer can manifest as a red or white patch, or a persistent lump that does not fade. Prompt professional evaluation is important for any suspicious changes to ensure early diagnosis and management.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
A healthcare professional, often a dermatologist, begins the diagnosis of a lip mole with a visual examination. They may use a specialized magnifying tool called a dermoscope to examine the lesion more closely. If there is any suspicion, a biopsy is performed, where a small tissue sample is removed for testing. This procedure helps determine if the mole is benign or malignant.
For benign lip moles, such as labial melanotic macules, observation may be sufficient as they are harmless. If removal is desired for cosmetic reasons or if the mole is suspicious, several treatment options are available.
Treatment Options
Surgical excision removes the mole and a margin of healthy tissue, particularly for suspicious or cancerous lesions. Laser removal uses high-intensity light to target pigment or vessels, effective for benign lesions like venous lakes and some moles, often with minimal scarring. Cryotherapy involves freezing the mole with liquid nitrogen, causing the cells to die, blister, and eventually fall off.
The choice of treatment depends on the specific diagnosis and characteristics of the mole.