title: Prevalence of lip and perioral Ephelides in beach workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ephelides are small hyperpigmented macules common in the skin, presenting as areas with increased melanin production. Ephelides are observed in genetically predisposed individuals, particularly fair-skinned people highly susceptible to sunburn.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the prevalence of lip and perioral ephelides in 362 beach workers in the city of Natal (Rio Grande do Norte) and to investigate potential associations with sociodemographic, occupational and general health.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this purpose clinical tests were performed by calibrated examiners in the epidemiological area around the lips and the area bounded laterally by the nasolabial groove and at the bottom by the chin. A questionnaire was completed and assessed. The possible associations between sociodemographic variables, occupational and general health with the presence of lip and perioral ephelides were evaluated by chi-square test for a significance level of 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately one third of the workers were affected by perioral ephelides (33.7%) and around a quarter of them by lip ephelides (24.0%). Gender was the only variable significantly associated with the presence of perioral ephelides (p = 0.002), unlike lip ephelides which proved to be significantly associated with habits (p = 0.036) and alcoholism (0.030).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of ephelides in lip and perioral region was high in the study population, with gender and certain habits associated with its occurrence.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte(UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil. eudeseuler@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Eudes Euler de Souza
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Lucena
authors.forename: Ana Claudia de Queiroz
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Danielle Bezerra de
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Pérola Teixeira de
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Ericka Janine Dantas da
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Kenio Costa de
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
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