Lip pigmentation is the natural coloration of lips depending on the amount of melanin a person has in their skin cell. However, several other factors can also lead to further darkening of the lip. If you are experiencing lip darkening and want to get rid of them naturally, you’re at the right place.
Read this quick blog to understand the causes of pigmented lips and explore some of the best lip pigmentation removal home remedies.
What Causes Lip Pigmentation?
The severity of lip pigmentation can vary from person to person and may be caused by various factors. Some of these have been highlighted below:
Genetics
Lip hyperpigmentation of this type is more common in people with a family history of darkly colored lips; this phenomenon is more significant in people with skin of color. Where hereditary pigmentation is involved, it is usually an even color and distribution, unlike most external causes of hyperpigmentation.
Sun Exposure
This is one of the most common causes of lip hyperpigmentation. The lips are susceptible because of the delicate nature of the skin. They are, therefore, vulnerable to ultraviolet rays from the sun. When subjected to light UV rays, the melanocytes produce melanin more profusely. This is why you develop a tan if exposed to excess sun, which can happen to lips, too.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal fluctuations can also lead to skin pigmentation, such as melasma. Melasma often appears in many pregnant women, but it can also be caused by hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. During such periods, the elevated estrogen and progesterone stimulate melanocytes in the lips, causing them to produce high amounts of melanin.
Vitamin Deficiencies
Generally, vitamin deficiencies can have a range of effects on the body, ranging from health to the aesthetic state of the skin. In particular, a deficiency in vitamin B12 may lead to an alteration of pigmentation on the skin.
Smoking
Nicotine and countless other toxins in tobacco smoke can cause a rise in melanin content, leading to patchy darkening of the lips. Lip hyperpigmentation is more pronounced among long-term smokers. Smoking also affects the blood vessels, leading to worse circulation that may cause the lips to darken.
Curious to Know About Top Lip Pigmentation Home Remedies?
You can brighten your lip shade naturally with the help of simple kitchen ingredients. Here’s how to use them:
1. Lemon Lip Mask
Before you sleep, cut a lemon in two and squeeze out the juice at night. Then, gently rub it on your dark lips. Next morning, when you wake up, wash it off with cold water. You can apply this dark lips remedy every night until you start getting results. Lemons are natural bleachers that can help lighten the dark skin on your lips, removing dead skin on the chapped lips. The citrus nature of lemon makes it one of the safest and easiest home remedies for lip pigmentation removal at home.
Scientific Facts
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, Citrus fruits, such as lemon, possess anti-melanogenesis activities. Due to this, lemon extracts are widely used in whitening cosmetics and treating hyperpigmentation.
2. Rose Water and Honey Lip Mask
This is an effective remedy for lip pigmentation treatment. Take a few drops of rose water mixed with a teaspoon of honey. Massage your lips with this mixture. Let it be there for 5-10 minutes, and then clean it with a wet cloth. This is one of the most convenient home remedies for dark lips. You can do this two to three times a day. Rosewater is said to cure, soothe, and moisturize your lips. Honey exfoliates the skin on the dark lips and hydrates them from the inside, thus reducing lip pigmentation.
3. Olive Oil and Sugar Lip Scrub
Mix half a teaspoon of sugar with extra virgin olive oil drops in a bowl. Gently scrub once a week with this mixture to see some great results on your dark lips. This home remedy for pigmented lips gives you rosy pink lips that are always moisturized if you stick to it. Sugar helps to exfoliate the dead cells on your lips and improves blood circulation, and olive oil locks in all the moisture, making your lips feel baby-soft.
4. Papaya Mask and Chickpea Flour
Scoop a teaspoonful of papaya pulp and mix it with half a teaspoon of chickpea flour to make a paste. Apply this paste to your lips and rub gently for 2 minutes. Leave it on for 15 more minutes and then rinse. The papaya enzyme will help lighten pigmentation while the chickpea flour exfoliates dead skin cells.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Take a clean cotton ball and dip it in diluted apple cider vinegar. Place the soaked cotton on your lips and leave it on for 5-6 minutes before rinsing. This will have mild peeling effects on the skid, which will remove dead skin cells and reduce pigmentation. However, before you use this on your lips, make sure to do a small patch test as it causes sensitization in some cases.
Conclusion
Some of us can have naturally pigmented lips from birth due to the amount of melanin in our skin cells. However, several other factors, such as hormonal changes, smoking, tanning, and vitamin deficiencies, can also lead to lip-darkening. You can do a DIY lip pigmentation treatment at home to lighten your lip color. These include using lip masks made of lemon, honey, rosewater, and olive oil and using sugar as a natural scrub to remove dead skin cells. These remedies will make your lips appear supple and less pigmented.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9962211/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jocd.12058
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8066973/
