mouth and dental disorders
Lip Sores, Lip Inflammation, and Other Changes
Introduction
The lips may undergo changes in size, color, and surface. Some of these changes may indicate a medical problem. Other changes are harmless. With aging, the lips may grow thinner. (ulcers) have various causes. A lip sore with hard edges may be a form of skin cancer (see Mouth and Throat Cancer ; see also may occur. Multiple, small, scattered brownish-black spots may be a sign of a hereditary disease called Hereditary conditions that cause intestinal polyps , in which polyps form in the stomach and intestines. Rarely, smokers develop noncancerous brown spots on the lips near where the cigarette is held. Freckles and irregularly shaped brownish areas (melanotic macules) are common around the lips and may last for many years. These marks are not cause for concern. Kawasaki Disease , a disease of unknown cause that usually occurs in infants and children 8 years old or younger, can cause dryness and cracking of the lips and reddening of the lining of the mouth. Other common lip changes include Lips and Sun Damage None Lip and Tongue Swelling None 