Dark Lips

Dark Lips

Dark Lips

Many of us suffer from dark lips despite having a bright complexion of the face. Sometimes the darkening of the lips can be a cause of low confidence and insecurities about one’s looks.

Let us try understanding the reason behind the darkening of the lips

  • excessive exposure to the sun
  • lack of hydration
  • cigarette smoking
  • allergic reactionsto toothpaste, lipstick, etc.
  • too much caffeine
  • lip sucking
  • chemotherapy
  • anemia
  • vitamin deficiency especially B12
  • excessive fluoride use

 

Life style modification can help in reducing darkening of lips

  • USE SUNSCREEN or a lip balm with spf minimum 30
  • avoid smoking and too much of caffeine
  • Changing toothpaste brand if allergic to it
  • Regular exfoliation and hydration of lips with lip scrub and a lip balm. Avoid using petroleum jelly. Use lip balm made of natural ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, and oils like coconut oil, argan oil, rosehip seed oil etc.

 

Natural ingredients: have no scientific evidence, work in some cases but not all, can take 6 months or more to show results.

  1. Step 1-Scrub:
    • Lemon and sugar scrub-do for maximum 2-3 minutes, very gently
  2. Step 2-Lip Mask
    • Mix yogurt, honey and crushed dried rose petals together to a paste and apply on lips for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water
  3. Step 3-Coconut oil or a natural lip balm. Leave it overnight and use as often as required during day time.

 

Medical treatments:

  1. Q switched laser-multiple sittings required; 4-6 sessions
  2. Chemical peels-lactic acid, arginine peel, low concentration glycolic acid-multiple sittings; 6-8 sessions
  3. Topical creams containing hydroquinone, arbutin, vitamin c, and Kojic acid. All these treatments and creams should be taken under the guidance of a doctor
  4. Lip fillers: help in hydration also