Transcending the ability to simply perfect a picture-worthy pout, or act for the articulation of sound or speech, the lips can also serve as signposts for an array of healthcare conditions, from the slight to the serious. This issue, we overview just a few of the calls for medical intervention which may be written all over a person’s face.
A SORE THING
Affecting one-in-five people, cold sores – attributed to the herpes simplex virus – are a common cause of lip health concern. But while their recurrent surfacing isn’t too severe, and they typically clear up within seven to 10 days without the assistance of treatment, they remain a source of annoyance, and thus over-the-counter balms and creams can be encouraged for the alleviation of symptoms, as well as cold sore patches which boast hydrocolloid gel, and antiviral tablets can potentially be prescribed for the more serious scale of cases.
Medical insights into cold sores are still often shrouded in mystery, however, a few years ago, researchers at the University of Edinburgh discovered that people affected by cold sores possess a mutation in a gene, which means that their immune system is not able to prevent them from developing.
Remarking on the study, Professor Juergen Haas, of the University of Edinburgh’s Division of Pathway Medicine, said, ‘Most people carry the cold sore strain of the herpes simplex virus, but until now we never knew why only some of them develop cold sores.
‘Knowing that susceptibility to the virus involved relates to people’s genes reinforces the need to research, not only the evolution of viruses themselves, but also the susceptibility of hosts to infection.’
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can also manifest by way of the appearance of the lips. Although the complications encompass gum inflammation and sometimes cavities, minor aphthous ulcers are the most common.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Chapped, cracked, problematic lips are often a result of environmental factors – but bear in mind that they can also be alerting to the absence of key nutrients within the diet. For example, cracks at the corner of the mouth may be indicative of a deficiency of iron, zinc, vitamin B3, or vitamin B6, while parched lips could be a tip off of dehydration.
Incredibly worrisome is the link between the appearance of lips and food allergies, with recent research demonstrating that allergic reactions kill around one to two people per month in the UK. Anaphylaxis can promptly trigger swelling in the skin, lips, mouth and throat, making breathing difficult.
COLOUR ME CURIOUS
If a person’s lips are tinged blue – accompanied by the appearance of their blue skin – it’s likely to be a sign of low blood oxygen levels or poor circulation, recognised as cyanosis and requiring critical medical advice.
Particular triggers for cases of central cyanosis like this are lung problems, including the escalation of a long-term lung condition, such as asthma or COPD, as well as a pulmonary embolism, and infections to the lung, like pneumonia or bronchitis. Additionally, the condition may come to the fore as a result of heart problems and a plethora of other measures, be it exposure to the cold air or high altitude.
Other generators of lip discolouration that are worth considering are oral birth control contraceptives and exposure to the sun.
CANCER AWARENESS
Patients and healthcare professionals should further be vigilant about the appearance of lips considering that oral or mouth cancer can be detected when a lesion develops in the lining surface of the tongue, mouth, lips and gums. However, the ability to decipher the condition and accurately diagnose can be difficult considering that numerous other safer conditions can resemble the early stages of the disease, and several can transform into cancers at random points.
Wanting to aid surveillance and early tumour diagnosis, last year, the Biophotonics Research Group at King’s College London’s Dental Institute have developed a new clinical imaging instrument that will hopefully reduce the number of biopsies required in the future. Made up of an unusual blend of clinical doctors and laboratory scientists collaborating in the same labs, the research group are working to address the issues around oral cancer detection.
Dr Richard Cook, from the King’s College London’s Dental Institute, explained the necessity of innovation in this area, commenting ‘A device that can help survey suspicious lesions and guide biopsies to more accurately confirm the existence of cancer and its exact location would prove invaluable. Biopsy is an elaborate and time-consuming process and is unpleasant, deterring patients from further treatment. There is often the need for biopsies in multiple locations to ensure all areas of a potentially cancer bearing lesions are correctly assessed. This is often repeated over time to rule out misdiagnosis.’