10 Home Remedies For Dark Spots On The Lips

Dark spots on the lips can cause concern or self-consciousness. But they are usually harmless.

What Causes Dark Spots On Lips?

Dark spots on lips can be caused because of several reasons. These include;

1. Vitamin B Deficiency

It causes changes in the texture or appearance of the skin on your lips. Dark spots on the lips can indicate a vitamin deficiency.

2. Use Of Supplements

Receiving multiple iron-rich blood transfusions, or hemochromatosis (a hereditary condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron).

3. Chapped Lips

Chapped lips or cracked lips because of dry skin caused by dehydration, sun exposure, or wind can serve as an excellent breeding ground for the bacteria to enter and cause infection. These infections can cause dark spots on the lips.

4. Hormonal Disorder

Dark or black spots on lips might indicate a hormone disorder caused by either high or low levels of thyroid hormone.

5. Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation Also called melasma, is a harmless skin issue characterized by patches of discolored skin that appear brown or greyish. These can appear anywhere in the body, including the lips.

6. Allergies

If you are suffering from any kind of allergies then there are chances of suffering from dark spots on the lips

7. An Expired Lip Products

Using old or expired lipsticks or lip balms.

8. Smoking And Excessive Alcohol Intake

Darks spots on lips from smoking are because of the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke. Excessive alcohol consumption causes dark spots by affecting the normal functioning of the body.

9. Excess Iron In The Body

Too much iron in the body can bring about changes in skin color and dark spots on lips. Excessive iron in the body can be because of consuming too many iron allergic reaction to contact with irritants called pigmented contact cheilitis can cause dark spots on lips. Irritants can be face makeup, toothpaste, and hair dye.

10. Sunspots

Sunspots are dark spots on lips from the sun and may feel scaly or crusty. These sunspots are also referred to as actinic keratosis.

11. Medications

Certain medications such as cytotoxic drugs, antimalarial, antipsychotic, anticonvulsants, and antiarrhythmic drugs.

12. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Dark spots on lips std can be caused due to sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, genital herpes, and HIV.

Are Dark Spots A Cause Of Concern?

Dark spots are usually not a cause for concern. But it is important to get it diagnosed by your doctor to detect any underlying conditions.

The health of your skin indicates the health of your body. Whether you have slight discoloration, flaky patches, black, or dark raised moles, never ignore spots on your lips.

Home Remedies For Dark Spots On Lips

There are several home remedies to eliminate black spots on the lips. They also work by lightening the color and making the skin healthier. A few home remedies include;

1. Lemon Juice And Honey

Lemon juice contains bleaching properties that lighten the dark spots. Lemon also acts as an antiseptic agent that heals the spot caused by an infection. Honey moisturizes the skin on lips and eliminates the dry and flaky skin.

How To Use

• Mix 1-2 drops of lemon juice with 1-2 drops of honey.
• Apply the mixture on the dark spots on your lips
• Leave it to dry for 10 minutes and rinse it off.
• Repeat the remedy 2 times a day.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinger has skin lightening and infection-treating properties that reduce the appearance of the black spots on lips. The acids present in it exfoliate the darkened skin to bring back the pink lips.

How To Use

• Dip a cotton swab in the apple cider vinegar and apply it to the affected area on the lips and leave it for a few minutes. It can be applied 2-3 times a day.

3. Almond Oil

Almond oil contains nourishing fats that hydrate the lips and reduce dryness. Almond oil also contains mild bleaching properties that lighten the dark spots.

How To Use

• Take 1-2 drops of almond oil on your fingertips; massage it on your lips and leave it overnight.
• Consider applying almond oil every night.

4. Beetroot

Beetroot hydrates the skin and helps remove darkened dead skin cells. Beetroot also reduces oxidative damage and the formation of new skin cells.

How To Use

• Refrigerate the beetroot slice for a few minutes and rub the slice gently over the lips.
• Leave the beetroot juice for 5 minutes and rinse your lips.

5. Rose Petals And Glycerin (glycerol)

Glycerin helps to hydrate the skin and improves its elasticity, both of which are deficient in cracked lips that cause dark spots. Glycerin also helps to deal with the dark spots caused by an irritant by alleviating the irritation. Rose petals boost the effects of glycerin because of its vitamin E content that has antioxidant and hydrating properties.

How To Use

• Crush 2-3 rose petals and mix them with 1 teaspoon glycerin.
• Apply this mixture as a mask on your lips and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with water.
• Repeat this remedy once every day.

6. Pomegranate

Pomegranate helps in adding moisture to the lips, pomegranate helps to heal the dark spots. It also works by improving the circulation and regeneration process of the skin cells.

How To Use

• Mash 1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds and mix with 1/4 teaspoon rose water or milk cream.
• Apply and rub the paste on your lips for 2-3 minutes and then wash it off with water.
• This remedy can be repeated every alternate day.

7. Sugar Scrub

Scrubbing with sugar helps to exfoliate the dark and dead skin cells from the lips to bring back the pink lips. It also helps by promoting new cell growth.

How To Use

• Add a few drops of lemon juice to the sugar granules and mix well.
• Scrub your lips with this mixture for 3-4 minutes and then rinse it off.
• Repeat this remedy 2-3 times a week.

8. Turmeric And Nutmeg Paste

Turmeric and nutmeg have antibacterial properties that help treat dark spots when caused by infections. They also contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties that help in sooner recovery of damaged skin on your lips.

How To Use

• Mix a pinch of turmeric powder with a pinch of nutmeg powder.
• Add a few drops of water to the mixture and make a smooth paste.
• Apply the paste to the affected area on the lips and leave it to dry.
• Wash it off, followed by applying a lip balm
• Repeat once every day.

9. Cucumber

Cucumber has mild bleaching and hydrating properties that help lighten the dark spots on your lips and moisturizes the skin on the lips.

How To Use

• Mash a cucumber slice and apply the thick juice on the lips.
• Leave it on the skin for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with water.
• Repeat 1-2 times every day.

10. Strawberry

Strawberry contains vitamin C that helps exfoliate the skin and lighten the dark spot. It also helps in the rejuvenation of skin cells and eliminates dryness.

How To Use

• Crush ½ a strawberry and apply it on the lips.
• Leave it for 10 minutes and rinse it off with water.
• Repeat once every day until the spot fades away.

Eating a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of water can help to prevent some causes of black spots on the lips. Avoiding spicy foods is also found to be beneficial.

Tips To Prevent Dark Spots On Lips

Here a few tips that can be followed to prevent black spots on lips:

• Keep your body and skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water (8-10 glasses) every day
• Consider using a lip balm with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) especially before going outdoors in the sun.
• Decrease the intake of caffeine.
• Avoid biting or licking your lips.
• Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake.
• Reduce the intake of iron. Consult your doctor if you are taking iron supplements before you plan to stop.
• Do not use old or expired skincare and lip products.

When To See A Doctor?

If you do not know how you got a black spot on your lip, visit your doctor. It may be nothing to worry, but to make a correct diagnosis and provide a treatment plan if required.

See your doctor if the spot is;

• Spreading rapidly
• Red, itchy, tender, or bleeds
• Irregular in shape
• Shiny
• Discolored or has an unusual combination of colors

Dark spots on the lips can be quite uncomfortable. You can get rid of them easily by following simple home remedies.