Sun protection for your lips -

[khalespace]

I have been golfing for 20 years. I am Southeast Asian with fair/brown skin. According to stats, I have low risk for skin cancer so I have been very careless and rarely use sun block.

 

Two weeks ago, after a round and full sun that day. I noticed that my lips, especially the lower lip, were burning and sensitive. After a few days this went away but as I pay more attention, my lips have permanently changed with a raised border around the lower lip and a little bit on the upper lip. I looked my pictures in the last few years and I saw that the problem started about 5 years ago and increasingly become worst. I did some research and the problem is called actinic cheilitis. If you google, there are some nasty pictures of the bad cases. Some cases will lead to skin cancer of the lips. Luckily, my case is not too bad but I need to stop the sun damage now. I have purchased lip balm with sun block, sun block lotion for my face, arms and legs, a bucket hat, and an umbrella for my push cart.

 

The picture below is not me, but my lower lip is similar with ill defined border and slightly raised skin below the lip.

 

Hope I can bring some awareness to help you guys to start protecting your skin too.

[bellken]

I use plain old Chapstick, it is not listed with any spf value, but, it works for me. I am allergic to chemical sunscreens, so, I avoid lip balms with any sun block.

[MelloYello]

I've always got Chapstick in my pocket.  

 

Normal is about SPF 15.

 

You can buy stronger stuff, too, if you're really worried about it. 

[PhillipG78]

Many lip balms have SPF 15-45 

[WestCoastGolf]

Bought some SunBum earlier this year and on days I remember to put it on I like it. Got the mineral version and the signature. I'm sure regular chapstik brand works just fine too, but I like that it is a product from a sunscreen company.

[MK7Golf21]

A lot of people on tour have messed up lips from the sun, dried out etc. Especially many older players who didn’t have the sunscreens we have today. 

[kamaaina1]

Beer?  🍺

[Malvern]

If the problem exacerbates, you could use Zinc Cream (applied liberally) as do cricketers in Australia, the skin cancer capital of the world.

 

Shown by the great Andrew Symonds (RIP):

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/AXwYNh2smvfPGQCi7

[grm24]

2 hours ago, Malvern said:

If the problem exacerbates, you could use Zinc Cream (applied liberally) as do cricketers in Australia, the skin cancer capital of the world.

 

Shown by the great Andrew Symonds (RIP):

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/AXwYNh2smvfPGQCi7

I can recall when Mark McNulty played the Champions Tour he many times had zinc cream on his lips. Forgot how superb a player he was back in his day. Nearly 50 wins on the ET and Sunshine tours. At one time a world top 10 player.

Edited June 28, 2023 by grm24

[GungHoGolf]

Like OP says, get it checked out for sure!

[khalespace]

8 hours ago, GungHoGolf said:

Like OP says, get it checked out for sure!

Luckily, my lips are not as bad with no white spots. However, similar raised skin at the border on the bottom lip.

 

As I read "precancerous" I got panic. However, only 10% will lead to cancer. If we seriously use protection now, the chance will be much lower. I got bucket hat, umbrella, lip and skin sunblock with 50+ SPF and arm sleeves so I feel much better. I will look into the zinc lip cream mentioned above. I will be under my umbrella when I am not hitting or on the green.

[st1800e]

Yep, skin cancer is a thing, have had 16 of them.   4 conventional surgeries, 3 Moh's surgeries, the rest cut off , once and done.   The amazing part is people die from skin cancer.  Need to monitor and look at your skin at least monthly,   anything suspicious, get to a doctor, soon.  

I go to a dermatologist every 6 months, and in between if something looks suspicious, he's happy I come in. Was there 2 days ago, was nothing to worry about, but better to check and be sure. Had my first cancer removed at 28, I'm now 70. I'm sure there'll be more.....