Prevalencia de queilitis actínica en trabajadores expuestos a radiación ultravioleta en Talca, Chile

Abstract

The objective of this research is to determine the prevalence of actinic cheilitis (AC) and associated factors in workers exposed to solar UV radiation in the city of Talca (Chile). A total of 151 workers, of which 16.6% exhibited AC, were examined. All lesions appeared on the lower lip. The 40% of cases aged between 50–59 years and 96% of patients diagnosed worked up to 6 hours daily exposed to the sun. 56% of the diagnoses of AC had a history of 20 or more years of exposure to UV radiation for work. 56% of cases of AC had a history of smoking. Major signs present in the AC cases were the dryness (100%), blurred demarcation between the lip vermilion border and the skin (88%) and labial edema (84%). Most lesions were asymptomatic (60%).