Laser vermilion ablation for actinic cheilitis

A new surgical procedure employing a carbon dioxide laser for treating actinic cheilitis is described. Eight patients having biopsy-proven actinic cheilitis and one patient having clinically evident actinic cheilitis but biopsy-proven superficial basal cell carcinoma were treated by vermilion ablation using the carbon dioxide laser. After an average follow-up period of 34 months (27 to 38 months), no patient has had a recurrence of cheilitis. Normal contour of the treated lip has been preserved in all patients, while none has had significant post-treatment scarring.