This image displays scaly, dry, cracked lips due to actinic cheilitis. Lips affected by actinic cheilitis can appear scaly or crusty until treated. This image displays thick, scaly skin around the lips, typical of actinic cheilitis, due to sun damage.
Share |

Actinic Cheilitis  Information for adults

Picture of Actinic Cheilitis: This image displays scaly, dry, cracked lips due to actinic cheilitis. Divider line
This image displays scaly, dry, cracked lips due to actinic cheilitis.
left arrow
right arrow
Overview
Actinic cheilitis, sometimes known as "farmer's lip" or "sailor's lip," is a precancerous condition related to cumulative lifetime sun exposure. The lower lip is most often affected. Individuals with actinic cheilitis often complain of persistent dryness and cracking of the lips. They will frequently exhibit other effects of sun-damaged skin, such as precancerous lesions on the skin called actinic keratoses and extensive wrinkling.

A certain type of skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) develops in 6–10% of cases of actinic cheilitis.
Who's At Risk Next:
Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
skinmatters blog, skin health and skin care advice from experts
skin condition finder, over 170 skin conditions and thousands of medical pictures
ask the doctor, skin care questions from visitors, responses from experts