Presence of melanin and melanocytes in the human lower lip vermilion

The lips (labia oris) are composed of the hairy skin, vermilion border, vermilion, and oral mucosa. The lip vermilion (LV) is located at the border of the facial skin and oral mucosa [1]. There is considerable histological evidence supporting the presence of melanin and melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Regarding the vermilion epithelium, the only available evidence is a report of upper LV obtained from infant patients with cleft lip [2]. However, the presence and distribution of melanocytes within the adult vermilion tissue remains unclear.
Source: Journal of Dermatological Science - Category: Dermatology Authors: Source Type: research