When Harry James was a teenager, he had a small, dark mole on his lip. It appeared more visible after sun exposure and, during the drizzly British winter, it would become only faintly visible. He’d had it for years and barely thought about it.
Gradually though, the mole began to change. The colour deepened and it became slightly larger, and didn’t shrink or fade in the same way after family holidays.
Despite his parents’ concern, it was easy to brush off. Harry was 15 at the time, and like many teenagers, the idea that a mark on his lip could be anything more than cosmetic felt implausible, particularly given his freckly complexion.
Harry’s lip mole before treatment
It wasn’t until friends started regularly commenting: ‘You have something on your lip,’ that Harry finally decided to get it checked out. He went to a private clinic, imagining it would be a waste of time. However, after a brief consultation with a dermatologist, they advised the lesion needed to be immediately removed. Under anesthetic, the mole and a safe surrounding margin was cut away, and the lip stitched back up.
Why the concern? Well, according to Dr Ross Perry, skin cancer expert and Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics, the lips are an area that requires more vigilance than they’re often given.
While most of us put new bumps or patches down to damage or minor viruses like cold sores, ‘Any new, changing or persistent dark spot, lump, scaly patch or sore on the lip should never be ignored,’ he explains.
‘Warning signs include asymmetry, irregular borders, uneven colour, bleeding, crusting, ulceration or a lesion that doesn’t heal within three weeks,’ Dr Perry notes. Harry’s mole filled multiple of these criteria: it had jagged borders, a deepening colour and stuck around for years. Most of the time – as ended up being the case for Harry – these marks will be benign.
But, as Dr Perry notes, ‘because lip cancers can look subtle in their early stages – and because certain moles can become cancerous, particularly after repeated sun damage – it’s always better to have anything suspicious checked sooner rather than later.’
Are lips vulnerable to skin cancer?
While lip cancer is relatively uncommon, it’s the most frequently occurring type of oral cancer, particularly among older, white adults. ‘The lips are particularly vulnerable because the skin here is much thinner and lacks melanin, which normally provides some natural protection against UV radiation,’ Dr Perry explains.
Harry’s lips after the mole was removed
‘They’re also constantly exposed to sunlight and are frequently overlooked when people apply SPF. ’Over time, repeated sun exposure can damage DNA in skin cells, increasing the risk of actinic damage, pre-cancerous changes and skin cancers.
The most common type of lip cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which develops in the flat cells lining the surface of the lips. Unlike some other skin cancers, squamous cell carcinoma of the lip is more likely to spread if left untreated, making early detection particularly important.
When caught early, treatment is usually straightforward and outcomes are generally very good, but delayed diagnosis can lead to more complex treatment and a higher risk of complications.
How should your lips be protected in the sun?
Prevention, Dr Perry says, is both simple and highly effective when it comes to lip cancers.
‘Use a lip balm with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every single day – not just in summer,’ he advises. ‘Reapply it regularly, especially after eating or drinking. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, avoiding peak UV hours where possible, and treating lip protection as part of your daily routine can significantly reduce long-term risk.’
What should you do if you notice changes to your lips?
Dr Perry’s advice is clear: don’t self-diagnose and don’t wait.
‘If you notice a dark spot, growth or sore on your lip that is new, changing or not healing, book an appointment with a GP or dermatologist as soon as possible,’ he says. ‘Early assessment is key. When skin cancers are caught early, or moles are removed before potentially turning cancerous, treatment is usually straightforward and outcomes are excellent. Delaying, however, can allow a small problem to become far more serious.’
In Harry’s case, intervention meant the mole was removed promptly, with no lasting consequences. However, he says, he’d encourage people who experience the same changes to see a dermatologist immediately, rather than assuming a mole is only superficial.
