Discoloration of Lips

Hate those bluish-gray lips of many chain-smokers, which is not only embarrassing, but annoying too. Yes, it can be hereditary too, but smoking makes up for the most common cause of discoloration in lips. Skin too fair but lips too purple... that's sad and disheartening, ain't it? But how to gain back that soft, pinkish color that made your lips so 'kissable' (ahem...)? Are there any home remedies that could cure this discoloration? Well, yes. However, breaking down all the causes before decoding the treatment is the best way to go about treating a problem, and I'm sure we agree here, don't we?

Causes

As stated above, you'll see this discoloration in almost all people who smoke regularly. Other than that, excessive intake of iron-rich foods causes lips to darken and discolor. Those who take in too much of caffeine and tea are often seen to have discolored lips. While these are some of the most common blue or purple lips causes, treatments such chemotherapy, illnesses such as cold and cough, excessive sweating, and rapid heartbeat result in lips turning blue from pink. Areas where temperature is below normal, the body directs blood-flow away from the skin, thereby, taking its color just to make sure the vital organs of the body are rendered enough warmth. Hence, oxygen supply near the surface of the skin is limited, and is seen through the lips' skin. Too obvious as it seems, skin that lacks enough oxygen turns inky blue. What's more, instances when your body is deprived of enough oxygen lead to blue - or purple-tinged lips, stealing the natural pink hue that your lips have. In addition, many a time, lack of hemoglobin in red blood cells leads to a purple color in the lips.

Note that, lip discoloration in black people is hereditary. Many African-American people are blessed with brownish lips which they need not worry about. Excessive usage of low-quality lipsticks and lip-liners causes lips to darken and lose their natural color. If you're naturally blessed with pink lips, and you see them losing their natural color, the following section vouches on some of the best home remedies to bring back the natural tinge of your lips. Take a look.

Remedies

More than a professional treatment, you need to acquire home remedies in order to treat this condition. To start with, make sure you drink lots of water that is capable of flushing out all the toxins in your system. Water keeps skin hydrated, and also prevents the formation of dark spots on lips.

Secondly, you need to start avoiding excessively hot foods that tend to exacerbate the color of your skin, leading to embarrassing stains on lips. Stop consuming coffee and other hot beverages that would help you cut down on caffeine, minimizing the risk of further discoloration.

Thirdly, you should stop using degraded quality cosmetics, and start using natural and herbal beauty products. For example, homemade lip gloss is a wonderful alternative to those dark-colored lipsticks and sticky lip glosses, that do nothing but deteriorate the texture, stealing away all the softness of lips.

Lastly, one of the most effective treatments for lips and skin discoloration is the application of lemon juice. Lemon in the form of oil or juice has always proved to be one of the most effective remedies to treat skin disorders, thus, rendering healthy skin in the nick of time. Along with lemon juice, you could also apply aloe vera gel to the lips, which will soon combat discoloration, and your lips will regain their natural color.

Let's be candid. Discoloration of lips does embarrass you, and if you're a female, you should stop masquerading your lips with lipsticks of all colors, and treat them right away. Effective lip care would help you enhance the beauty of your face, and would definitely make your lips all the more 'kissable'. After all, you don't want to turn off your partner with the very first kiss, do you?