Christine Webb, Your Health and Fitness

It's something many women use, but now new research shows that something as simple as lip gloss could increase your risk for cancer.

Experts say the reason is that those shiny lip balms and glosses may attract ultraviolet rays.

Doctors say protecting your lips from harmful sun rays is as important as using sunscreen to protect your skin.

A recent study found that less than 25 percent of Americans use some form of lip protection.

Reports show that lips are more susceptible than skin to aging from chronic sun damage, and also more prone to developing serious cancers.

Doctors say women should only wear glossy lipsticks in the sun when they have a layer of sun protection on underneath. Anybody who is planning on being outdoors for more than 20 minutes at a time should use a lip sun block with an SPF of 30.    

Make sure to apply it in the morning under any lipsticks or lip glosses, and then reapply the sun block throughout the day. 

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