An ABC News article reports that according to some dermatologists, the translucent sheen in non-SPF lip gloss may help ultraviolet rays penetrate the skin of the lips, thereby increasing your risk of developing cancer. According to some top experts in the field, these dermatologists may be on to something.

One Harvard cancer specialist made the cautious analogy between wearing non-SPF lip gloss and using baby oil to promote tanning. "You might be able to infer that they both enhance UV exposure," said Dr. Jessica Fewkes a face and neck skin cancer specialist.

Dr. Kevin Cooper, the chairman of the dermatology department at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, explains that any increased penetration of ultraviolet rays would be the result of "enhanced optical passage" of the dangerous rays. However, Cooper qualified that the increases would be small.

Although this idea has supporters, there have been no large, targeted studies that either prove, or disprove this theory.