Dark Spots on Lips

Discolored 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 and/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 on the lips. Let's discuss the possible causes of dark spots on lips and the effective home remedies to get rid of them.

Dark Spots on Lips: Causes

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 can cause darkened spots on lips.
• Habits like frequent lip licking and lip biting can also contribute to development of lip spots.
• If there is a significant rise in the iron levels of the body, then the lips may turn dark or discolored.
• Deficiency of vitamin B and change in the levels of hormones are common reasons for dark lips and/or lip discoloration.
• At times, usage of specific brands of toothpaste and administration of certain lip medications can lead to development of prominent spots on lips.
• Those who apply old lipsticks or other lip care products may notice darkening of the lips.
• Similar to skin sunburn, the lips may become dark, rough, and dry after exposure to harsh sun's rays.
• During winter or when the atmospheric humidity drops down, such lips spots may develop due to lack of moisture in the lips.
• Very rarely, dark or brown spots on lips is developed due to improper dental fixtures.

Dark Spots on Lips: Home Remedies

Unwanted spots on lips usually show good responses with the regular lip caring tips. To avoid darkened patches associated with sun exposure (or sun spots), it is advisable to use lip balms with recommended sun protective factor, whenever you step out of the home, especially on sunny days. Following are some of the effective home remedies for dark spots on lips.

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 dark spots on lips are resulted due to prolonged smoking or chewing tobacco, then the best home remedy is to abstain from such habits. No doubt, you will notice significant improvement in the color of the lips over a period of time.

Lemon Juice
Lemon juice, due to its natural bleaching ability, helps to lighten the color of the prominent spots on lips. 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.

Lip Care
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 dark spots on lips 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 skin discoloration condition. If required, the doctor 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?