Do you have dark lips? Here’s how you can treat them

#SKIN: Just like skin tone the colour of your lips also varies from person to person. Let’s make this clear that no shade of skin on the lips is healthier than any other. However, a change in the colour or condition could indicate that your lips need extra care.

Even though we usually tend to overlook it, lips can tell a lot about your health. Some people develop darker lips over time due to a range of medical and lifestyle factors.

Here are some of the causes

1. Increased exposure to the sun causes an increase in production of melanin in your skin, thereby causing pigmentation.

2. Excessive smoking can lead to smoker’s melanosis, a pigmentation issue common among smokers.

3. An allergic response to certain products like toothpaste, lipstick, etc, may also cause hyperpigmentation in your lips.

Here is a list of measures to heal and prevent dark and chapped lips.

Use lemon juice

Lemon juice is well-known for its ability to lighten skin. Rub a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice on your lips before bed each night. Rinse off in the morning with warm water. Also, in order to make it more nourishing, you can mix lemon and honey together and apply it to your lips at night.

Use a pomegranate lip scrub

Pomegranates can help to restore the natural colour of your lips. Crush a tablespoon of pomegranate seeds and then mix with milk to create a thick paste. Rub the paste onto your lips and rinse it off after 2-3 minutes. Discontinue if irritation occurs.

You can also mix pomegranate with other fruit juices to create a natural lip stain. Grind 1 tablespoon of pomegranate seeds. Mix into equal parts beetroot and carrot juice. Rub the mixture on your lips, leaving it on as a stain.

Use potatoes

Potatoes contain “catecholase,” a naturally occurring enzyme that is best known for reducing darkness and the appearance of scars. Rub a slice of potato on your lips before bedtime. Wash your lips with warm water in the morning.

Causes of dark lips

Darkening of the lips can be the result of hyperpigmentation. This is a typically harmless condition caused by an excess of melanin. Lip hyperpigmentation may be caused by:

• excessive exposure to the sun
• lack of hydration
• cigarette smoking
• allergic reactions to toothpaste, lipstick, etc.
• too much caffeine
• lip sucking

Most of these causes can be addressed by lifestyle changes, such as wearing sunscreen, limiting caffeine intake, or changing toothpaste brands.

The following can also lead to darker lips:

• chemotherapy
• anemia
• vitamin deficiency
• excessive fluoride use

Always consult with your GP first to ensure you have the right diagnosis for your changing lip skin-tone.