Smoking, stress, medications, and medical conditions can all cause darkening of the lips.
In the short term, there are a number of solutions that can help lighten lips.
In this article, we take a look at the potential causes of dark lips and offer the solutions that can help lighten or cure them.
What are the causes of dark lips?
There is a natural variation in lip color from person to person. A pigment called melanin gives skin its color.
Less melanin results in a lighter complexion, while more melanin results in a darker complexion.
If the skin begins to produce more melanin than usual, it can lead to hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation causes skin patches to appear that are darker than the skin around them. Age spots are a common example of hyperpigmentation. This condition is linked to sun exposure, and many people believe it to be harmless. It can affect almost any part of the body, including the lips.
The causes of hyperpigmentation are:
- Sun exposure
- Smoking
- The pregnancy
- Certain medications
- A medical condition
- Sun exposure
Exposure of the skin to the sun prompts the body to create melanin to absorb ultraviolet rays. This protects the skin from some of the damage caused by the sun. It also causes tanning of the skin.
It is important to wear sun protection on the lips, as well as elsewhere on the body. Lip balms with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher can protect lips from sun damage.
Smoking:
The nicotine and benzpyrene in tobacco smoke can promote the production of melanin in the skin. This can lead to darkening of the lips of Source Trust. This may happen gradually over time.
Smoking has many other negative health effects. The National Cancer Institute has a dedicated website that provides information and advice for people who want to quit smoking.
The pregnancy :
Some women may experience skin changes during pregnancy. This is due to the change in hormone levels in the body.
Certain areas of the body, including the lips, nipples, forehead, cheeks, and nose, may show patches of darker skin. However, these areas should return to their usual color after pregnancy.
Certain medications:
Certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation. These include antimalarial drugs and the oral antibiotic minocycline.
The skin should return to its usual color once the drug treatment is finished, but for some the hyperpigmentation may persist.
Medical issues:
Certain medical conditions can cause hyperpigmentation. One of the best known is Addison's disease.
It is usually an immune system problem that prevents the adrenal gland from producing enough essential hormones. This disease can cause dark spots on the skin, lips or gums. Other symptoms include lack of energy, weakness, and low mood.
If your lips are darker and take on a blue or purple tint, or if you have difficulty breathing, you should seek medical attention immediately. It could be a sign of cyanosis, a condition that develops when there isn't enough oxygen in the blood.
Our solution :
Search no more! We have finally found the solution to lighten your lips in order to obtain a uniform and natural shade.
Indeed, regardless of the reasons for which your lips are dark (tobacco consumption, use of stripping products, or even genetic reasons), with the French Kissy balm , your lips will find a harmonious and unified color.
Treatment :
Cosmetic treatments for skin lightening include creams, chemical peels, and laser treatments. These treatment options reduce melanin in the skin or prevent the skin from producing it.
There is little evidence to suggest that skin lightening is safe or effective. Treatments can damage the skin and positive results may not last.
Side effects include irritation, scarring, and nerve damage.