Dark spot on lips may occur due to varied causes such as excessively drinking coffee, smoking, or use of substandard lip care products. Dark spots on lips can be corrected by diet and lifestyle changes and home remedies.
Causes of dark spot on lip
A few common causes of dark spots on lips are listed below:
- Vitamin B deficits: Vitamin B deficiency can cause a variety of disorders, including angular cheilitis, which is a condition marked by inflammation and cracking around lips. The condition facilitates infection by fungus which then triggers dark spot on lip. Vitamin B deficits can be resolved by taking supplements and eating foods rich in vitamin B.
- Eating spicy and hot foods: Eat foods at high temperature, especially spicy foods, can burn the lips. Persistent burns on lips can cause dark spot on lip.
- Dehydration: It can cause dryness of skin and lips and increase the risk to development of dark spots on lips. Drink lots of water and other fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Increased iron in body: Higher than required levels of iron in body can cause dark spot on lip.
- Hormonal imbalance: Thyroid disorders and other hormonal disturbances can affect the food metabolism, skin, lips, mood, and sexual function, etc. The skin and lips may become dry, thus increasing risk of dark spots on lips.
- Drinking caffeinated beverages: Excessive intake of tea, coffee, and other caffeinated drinks can discolor the lips. Drinking coffee and tea when they are piping hot can burn lips and cause dark spots.
- Prolonged sunlight exposure: Melanin is produced due to exposure to sun rays. Contact with sunlight for long periods can increase the production of melanin, darken the skin and lips, and cause sunburns. Limit outdoor excursions and use sunscreen and other sun-protection options to prevent this.
- Using expired or cheap lip cosmetics: The lip skin is sensitive and can be easily damaged. Hence expired or substandard lip care products or cosmetics should not be used; else it can cause dark spot on lip and other lip problems. Use branded, well-known cosmetics, usually with organic and natural ingredients.
- Not removing lip stick or other makeup before going to sleep can also harm the skin and cause lip discoloration.
- Smoking: Cigarettes have toxic particles called nicotine which can cause different health problems such as cancer and dry skin. Smoking can discolor, dry, and stain the lips with dark spots. Alcohol abuse can also cause similar problems.
- Certain habits: Some people tend to lick the lips when they are dry so as to moisturize them. But licking lips actually causes them to become dry and lays the foundation for formation of dark spot on lip. Habit of biting lips can also cause dark spots.
- Side-effect of medications: Certain drugs like estrogens, amiodarone, sulfonamide, phenothiazines, tetracyclines, and phenytoin can cause dark spots on lips as side effect.
- Allergic reactions: Allergic reactions to toothpaste, face care products, or cosmetics can result in dark spot on lip.
- Cancer: Dark spots on lips can sometimes be a sign of cancer. In such rare instances, bumps may also form on the lips.
- Weather: The lips can chap or become excessively dry during winter or cold weather conditions. This can increase the risk of infections and dark spot on lip.
- Dental fixtures: Uncommonly, lip problems may also occur due to dental fixtures. Contact dentist for resolution, such as removal of the fixtures and/or laser treatment.
Dark Spot on Lip – Treatment
Treatment of dark spot on lip is dependent on the underlying causative condition. A few treatment options, self-care measures, and home remedies are listed below:
- Lip cancer and other kinds of cancers are treated with radiation therapy, surgery, and/or chemotherapy.
- Using good quality lip balm or chapsticks can prevent dryness of lips, pigmentation from sun rays, dark spots on lips, and other lip problems. It will also help maintain the soft texture of lips.
- Avoiding eating foods when they are piping hot, especially spicy foods
- Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet full of all the essential minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients.
- Limit the intake of tea, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages
- Quit smoking, stop chewing tobacco or using tobacco products, and limit or stop drinking alcohol
- Lemon juice has natural bleaching properties. Apply it on the lips every day till the dark spots on lips are eliminated. You may also add a bit of honey to lemon juice and apply on skin for better and faster results.
- Exfoliate lips by applying a thick layer of petroleum jelly, purified butter, or other kinds of good quality moisturizer on the lips. Then use a toothbrush to gently brush the lips in circular motions. Then wash the lips and apply some honey. Wipe off honey after ten minutes.
- Apple cider vinegar also has bleaching properties. Rub it on lips and let it remain for the entire night. Wash the lips in the morning. Repeat till dark spots on lips are eliminated and the lips are brighter and rosier.
- Beetroot juice or a mix of mashed rose petals and glycerin can also help remove dark spot on lip. The latter is especially helpful for smokers.
