Lip pigmentation seems to be a common problem area these days. But first, you should know that your lips should be darker than the rest of your body. They should range from red-pink to brown in colour. However, this is not the same hue that comes from smoking many packs everyday, thanks to the heat, smoke, and nicotine. Other factors can also result in hyperpigmentation or discoloration of the lips. Hyperpigmentation, a general term for skin discoloration, is typically a symptom rather than a standalone condition. Sunspots from excessive sun exposure, melasma patches from hormonal shifts, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or the debris from acne, are the most common types of hyperpigmentation on the face. However, because the skin on the lips is significantly different from that on the face, they are exempted from various types of discoloration. It is more vulnerable to everything we put in our mouths, including saliva, the dehydrator, and chapped lips villain, because it is thinner and delicate. The discoloration is typically a darkening around the lips’ inner corners or where they connect to the mouth. And because the industry is producing a new lip colour every second, we want it to be gone.

 
 
 
 
 
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What Causes Lip Pigmentation?

Lip pigmentation is fairly common. An allergic reaction to brand-new lipstick, lip gloss, or lip balm is one of the common causes. It might be an adverse reaction to a product constituent or perhaps a reaction to the spicy food you consumed. Another cause is when people sleep with their mouths open, allowing saliva to fall out at odd angles and line their lips. Even if that sounds disgusting, it’s still not as sad as finding out that your favorite lipstick, which you’ve been using for years, can cause an allergic reaction. Over time, both our bodies and how they react to products change.

How To Treat Lip Pigmentation?

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Avoid lip-licking if you have the tendency because it might cause skin inflammation and hyperpigmentation. If a cosmetic, medicine, or food allergy caused hyperpigmentation, it will go away on its own in a few months. Exfoliate your lips twice a week and nourish them with cosmetics devoid of chemicals. Smoking should be avoided to avoid discoloration. If you keep smoking, your lip hyperpigmentation is less likely to go away if it is caused by smoking. Citrus juice should be sipped through a straw to avoid getting it on your lips, as citrus fruits like oranges appear to also contribute to lip pigmentation. If a dermatologist prescribes them, ingredients including kojic acid, lactic acid, and ferulic acid can be used to treat lip pigmentation.