Treatment of actinic cheilitis by surgical vermilionectomy

Abstract

Actinic cheilitis is a potentially premalignant condition that is primarily found on the lower lip. Etiology is related to chronic exposure to ultraviolet light and the condition exhibits a strong predilection for people whose work involves intense exposure to the sun. Clinically observable signs include white or reddened areas of maculation or whitish plaques caused by hyperkeratinization of the lip epithelium, which can progress to a point at which the demarcation between the skin, vermillion border of the lip and the mucosa is lost. These lesions are generally asymptomatic but may progress to form areas of erosion and/or ulceration. There are a number of treatments available, one of which, vermilionectomy, is a surgical procedure in which the vermillion border of the lip is partially or totally removed and which, in addition to being inexpensive, offers the advantage of providing material for pathological analysis. The objective of this study is to describe the vermilionectomy technique as used to treat a patient diagnosed with actinic cheilitis.