Dark brown or black spots on lips is a common condition among today's youngsters and older citizens. Lip discoloration is mostly contributed by eating habits, modern lifestyles, and certain medications. Black or brown spots on lips affect the physical appearance significantly, especially for women. On the brighter side, women have the option of applying lipstick to hide the unsightly discoloration.
Causes of Dark Spots on the Lips
Dark pigmentation on lips can be caused due to several reasons, of which the most common is smoking (or precisely nicotine) for a prolonged duration. But, that doesn't mean that only smokers are prone to the condition. There are many people who develop the same for some unknown reasons. To clear your doubts, following is a list of the probable causes of developing dark spots on the lips.
- High intake of tea, coffee, and other caffeinated hot beverages.
- Habits like frequent lip licking and lip biting.
- A significant rise in the iron levels of the body.
- Deficiency of vitamin B and change in the levels of hormones.
- Usage of specific brands of toothpaste and administration of certain lip medications.
- Those who apply old lipsticks or other low-quality lip care products.
- Very rarely, dark spots on lips are developed due to improper dental fixtures.
- Similar to skin sunburn, the lips may become dark, rough, and dry after exposure to harsh rays of the sun.
- During winter (as the atmospheric humidity drops down), dark spots may appear on lips due to lack of moisture in the lips.
Unwanted spots on lips usually show good responses with the regular lip caring tips.
Use Lip Balm
To avoid darkened patches associated with sun exposure (or sun spots), it is advisable to use a lip balm with recommended sun protective factor, whenever you step out of the home, especially on sunny days.
Avoid Hot Foods
Consuming hot food items is strictly not recommended for people who have dark lip spots. Allow the food to cool down properly and then eat. Otherwise, exposure of the affected lips to high temperature may exacerbate the color of the spots on lips.
Eliminate Tea and Coffee
This approach for treating lip spots at home is for those who have the habit of taking several cups tea and coffee daily. For them, excess intake of these hot beverages is perhaps the root cause for the lip problem. So, cutting them will definitely improve the condition.
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking ample amounts of water everyday keeps the body as well as the lips hydrated, thus preventing dry lips. In addition, one should avoid licking of lips to avoid drying of lips. Always remember that dry condition worsens the discoloration of the lips.
Lifestyle Changes
If the dark spots are a result due to prolonged smoking or chewing tobacco, then the best home remedy is to abstain from such habits. You will certainly notice significant improvement in the color of the lips over a period of time.
Apply Lemon Juice
Lemon juice, due to its natural bleaching ability, helps lighten the color of the prominent spots. For increased effectiveness, mix equal amounts of lemon juice and honey, and apply the mixture several times a day. By doing so, the lip discoloration will fade away within a few days.
Check Lip Care Product Labels
Speaking about lip care, extra efforts should be taken in order to get rid of dark lip spots. While using any lip products, make sure you use reliable brands and avoid expired products. Keep your lips soft and moisturized by applying thick cold creams, homemade lip gloss, or clarified butter.
In case the spots do not improve after following the above tips, you can consult a qualified dermatologist or a skin specialist. The doctor may conduct certain tests in order to rule out any possible health problems that might be causing this discoloration. If required, he / she may suggest laser therapy to restore normal lip color. Though, spots on lips rarely pose health risks, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Right?
Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
