What factors cause dark lips?

Have you ever noticed that lip color is different from person to person just like skin color? In some cases, changing the color of the lips can indicate that they need more care. It is rare for lip discoloration to cause concern and pose a health risk. Factors such as smoking, stress, taking some drugs, etc. can cause dark lips. The cause and solutions for the treatment of darkening of the lips is the topic that we discuss in this article.

What is the cause of dark lips?

There is naturally variation in the color of people’s lips. A pigment called melanin gives color to the skin. Less melanin causes lighter skin and more melanin causes darker skin color. If the production of melanin is more than normal, it may lead to hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation causes spots on the skin that make the skin appear darker than the surrounding areas. Age spots are a common example of hyperpigmentation. This condition mostly happens when a person is exposed to sunlight for a long time. Hyperpigmentation can affect any part of the body, including the lips. The causes of dark lips or hyperpigmentation in the skin are as follows:

Exposure to sunlight

Exposing the skin to sunlight causes the body to produce melanin to absorb UV rays and protect the skin from sun damage. Being exposed to sunlight for a long time also causes tanning. Using sunscreen on the skin and lip balm containing SPF on the lips prevents their color from changing and neutralizes the sun’s damage.

smoking

Nicotine and benzpyrene in tobacco smoke can increase the production of melanin in the skin and darken the lips. This can happen gradually over time. Smoking has a negative effect on health and can be one of the most important factors of cancer in people.

The effect of pregnancy on lip darkening

Some women may be surprised by how their skin changes during pregnancy. The cause of skin change is the change in the level and regulation of hormones in the body. During this time, women may also see dark spots on their nipples, cheeks or nose in addition to seeing their lips darken. But you should not worry because this color change is temporary and the skin will return to its previous color once the pregnancy period ends.

Taking medicines

Some medications can cause hyperpigmentation, including antimalarials and the oral antibiotic minocycline. After the end of the medication period, the skin color will return to its original state. In some rare cases, hyperpigmentation may persist.

Medical problems

Certain medical issues can cause hyperpigmentation, one of the most well-known Addison’s disease Is. This disease occurs due to a problem in the immune system, in which the adrenal gland prevents the production of necessary hormones in sufficient quantity. This condition can cause dark skin spots and dark lips. Other symptoms of this disease include lack of energy, weakness and mood disorders. If your lips look dark, close to purple and you have trouble breathing, you should contact your doctor immediately. These symptoms can be the cause of cyanosis, which occurs when there is a lack of oxygen in the blood.

Home remedies for dark lips

Dry skin makes the lips appear darker and duller. Some home remedies can help maintain healthy and beautiful lips:

Use homemade honey scrub

Gently exfoliating the lips can help remove dead skin cells. You can prepare a scrub at home with the following method:

• Mix 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
• Gently massage the resulting mixture on the lips in circular motions.
• Then wash with warm water.

Excessive exfoliation can cause irritation and sensitivity. Since the skin of the lips is very delicate, you should not exfoliate your lips more than once a week.

Lip massage with almond oil or coconut oil

You can use almond oil to remove dark lips. Rubbing this oil on the lips moisturizes and increases blood circulation in this area. By massaging, more blood flows in the blood vessels related to the lips and the lips are strengthened. In order to cure dry lips, you can use coconut oil instead of almond oil. Usually you will see the results of using this work within 1 or 2 days.

Make your own lip balm

Regular use of lip balm can help maintain the health and beauty of the lips. Follow the steps below to make homemade lip balm:

• Place 1 tablespoon of beeswax in the microwave for 45 seconds until it is well heated.
• Add a tablespoon of coconut oil to it and place the container in the microwave for another 45 seconds.
• Put the resulting mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds until all the ingredients melt.
• Add 3 drops of mint essential oil and leave it in the microwave for another 15 seconds.
• Pour the mixture in another container and let it cool and become solid.
• Leave the lip balm in a cool place to prevent it from melting.

Use this homemade lip balm whenever needed.

Preventing dry lips by keeping the body hydrated

One of the best ways to take care of your skin is to keep your body hydrated. One of the first signs of dehydration in the body is the lips. If you don’t like the taste of water, you can add some slices of lemon along with cucumber.

Lemon to lighten lip color

You may have heard that many people use lemon to lighten their skin tone. Cut a lemon in half and put half of it on your lips for a minute and then wash your lips. Lemon contains citric acid and helps remove dead skin cells. But using lemon may not be suitable for people with sensitive skin. Therefore, it should be used with caution.

Treatment of dark lips

Lip darkening can be improved using special creams, chemical peels, and lasers. These treatment options work by reducing melanin in the skin. But be careful that these treatments may not be permanent and may be associated with side effects such as itching or sores. Note that if the lightening cream contains mercury, it should be avoided.

Important points in lip skin care

The skin of the lips is much more delicate than the skin of other areas of the face. There are no oil glands in the lips, so they dry quickly. Lip skin will look darker if it is dry. If you keep your lips moisturized regularly, you can prevent them from becoming dull. The skin of the lips is very sensitive and turns black when exposed to sunlight, smoking and using some medicines. It is recommended to always use a lip balm that has sunscreen properties.

Summary

Lip darkening often does not indicate serious or dangerous health problems. Sunlight, smoking, suffering from some diseases and taking some medicines darken the lip color. To treat dark lips, you can use both home remedies and products available in the pharmacy. Dermatologists recommend that you always use lip balm with SPF as a sunscreen for your lips.