When occurring on the lip, the appearance of a freckle or ephelis tends to be less than 0.5 cm, and they are associated with sun exposure
If this is true, then it is likely that either the upregulated process of melanin biosynthesis, the increased amount of melanin in the melanocytes, or both, occurring in the fields of benign oral melanin hyperpigmentation, constitute risk factors for transformation into oral mucosal melanomata
Research along this theme has very important clinical applications as identification of common signaling mechanisms in muscle and bone may generate therapeutics that simultaneously address the osteopenia and muscle atrophy that is prevalent in the frail elderly
Ketprayoon T, Noitang S, Sangtanoo P, Srimongkol P, Saisavoey T, Reamtong O, et al