The Case of a Black Spot on the Lips

A student in the screening clinic had documented the lesion seen in the picture as a mole. 

Melanotic macule in a 40-year-old male

The brown spot seen on this 40-year-old man's lip is called a melanotic macule. 

Melanotic Macule:

Melanotic macule is a focal discoloration of the oral mucosa. It is believed to be a result of an increased expression of melanin (the pigment that gives color to our skins). The color varies from brown to black. The cause for development of melanotic macules is not known. 

Treatment is usually not required. If a patient wishes to remove it for cosmetic reasons, conservative excision is sufficient. 

It is important that pigmented lesions on the maxillary gingiva and palate are kept under close observation or excised and submitted for histopathologic examination. This is because of the high incidence of oral melanoma at these sites.