Lip pigmentation is a common problem among people who consume tobacco regularly. The skin color depends on melanin. The lack of melanin creates a lighter skin tone, whereas more melanin means a darker skin tone. Lip discoloration can also be the result of sun damage, nutritional deficiencies, or medical condition. You can get a Permanent Lip ColorTreatment with the appropriate treatment of your lip pigmentation.
Causes of Lip Pigmentation
There are several causes of lip pigmentation, and some of these causes are as follows.
Iron deficiency: When a person doesn’t have iron in their body, it causes iron deficiency anemia.
Sun exposure: Sunspot or actinic keratosis may develop due to sun exposure. They can appear on the skin, including the face, lips, back, arms, and chest.
Hemochromatosis: Hemochromatosis causes due to the presence of excess iron in the body. Skin hyperpigmentation is a symptom of hemochromatosis. It may result in lip discoloration.
Cyanosis: The oxygen content of blood changes the blood color. Poor blood circulation or low oxygen content in the blood can cause blueish discoloration in the lips and skin. This is known as cyanosis. The presence of abnormal hemoglobin can reduce the oxygen content of the blood.
Oral thrush: Oral thrush occurs due to the overgrowth of the Candida fungus in the mouth. It can cause white or yellow patches on the gums, inner cheeks, tongue, or lips.
Laugier-Hunziker syndrome: Laugier-Hunziker syndrome is a benign skin condition that causes dark brown spots called macule. The spots develop on the lip and lining of the mouth.
Allergies: Red, inflated, or dry lips may occur due to an allergic reaction. Ingredients present in cosmetics and oral hygiene products can cause this type of allergy.
Specific medication: Sometimes, hyperpigmentation causes due to the side effect of some particular medication. These medications may include antipsychotics, antimalarials, anti convulsions, etc.
Treatment of Lip Pigmentation
Treatment of lip discoloration is different considering the causes mentioned above. For example, lip discoloration due to specific medication can be treated with the alternative treatment option. Antifungal drugs can treat oral thrush. The other medical treatments for lip discoloration are laser therapy, light therapy, liquid nitrogen spray, chemical peels, and medical ointments such as Solaraze, 5-fluorouracil, etc. Micropigmentation Treatment is one of the best treatments for lip discoloration.
Prevention
People can prevent lip discoloration by following several processes.
Avoiding or quitting smoking
Practicing proper oral hygiene
Eating a balanced diet that contains a range of nutritional foods
Limiting sun exposure and using a lip balm with sunscreen
