Carbon Dioxide Laser for Actinic Cheilitis: an Alternative and Effective Treatment

Abstract

Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a potential malignant disorder that occurs in the lower lip as a result of chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation. It is characterized by lip atrophy that may be associated with areas of dryness, fissures, white patches, erosion, ulcer, and crusts. This condition is more prevalent in Caucasians, males, and after the age of 45 years. A series of cases of AC were treated with carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. The selected patients were those with some degree of dysplasia or with manifested clinical changes in the lesions during follow-up. According to preliminary results, this therapy showed great efficacy with lower morbidity when compared to conventional surgery or electrosurgery. The CO2 laser proved to be a simple, low- invasive, and efficient therapy with less sensibility, bleeding, and edema postoperatively. Furthermore, there was no lesion recurrence during the follow-up.