Pigmentation Around Mouth

What causes dark spots around the mouth?

Pigmentation means colouring. Discolouration around the mouth is a common abstract of hyperpigmentation. These darkened areas of skin tend to develop in small patches and can occur anywhere on the body. The discolouration is a direct impact of increased melanin building in your skin.

Dark patches don’t certainly require treatment, but some people may find the skin discolouration bothering depending on the patch size.

What causes dark spots around the mouth?

The natural colour of the skin is due to a pigment called melanin. Sun exposure, hormone fluctuations, medications, and certain conditions may make changes in melanin production, particularly on the face. This can cause spots of hyperpigmentation that may pop up as discolouration around your mouth.

Melasma

Melasma comprises dark brown and greyish brown patches on the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip. They’re caused by hormonal changes in women. They can occur during pregnancy while taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.

Melasma tends to occur most often on the face, in areas such as the upper lip and chin, as well as the nose, cheeks, and forehead. Sun exposure can make these patches more noticeable.

Medication side effects

While oral contraceptives can cause melasma, other certain medications can increase the risk of hyperpigmentation. These include:

hormone replacements, especially estrogen
doxycycline, a type of antibiotic
chemotherapy drugs

Sun exposure

Ultraviolet rays from sun exposure and tanning beds can increase your risk of getting dark spots as you age. These are most common on the face, arms, and chest. Sun exposure can also worsen melasma. You’re at high risk if you skip the mouth area and lips when applying sunscreen.

There is new evidence that visible light also contributes to the growth of melasma.

Trauma to the skin

If you had a serious injury, burn, acne breakout, or infection around your mouth, it’s very much possible you may have hyperpigmentation in brown or black spots after the skin has healed. Also called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the related discolouration usually fades after several months.

This type of discolouration can also be caused by contact dermatitis from lip balms and toothpaste.

Vitamin deficiencies

Skin pigmentation may also be linked with deficiencies of vitamins, including vitamin B12 and vitamin D. A 2018 study found that vitamin D deficiencies were also notable in people with melasma.

The vitamin D deficiency is most likely secondary to sun avoidance, as the sun worsen melasma.

How to Get Rid of Pigmentation Around Mouth?

Here are some home remedies that can be beneficial in controlling the reappearance of pigmentation. A patch test is recommended before using any of this hyperpigmentation treatment:

Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is well known for its soothing properties but aloin rich aloe vera also plays a powerful role in getting rid of the pigmentation around your mouth. Take 2 tsp of fresh aloe vera gel and 3 tsp of coffee powder - apply it and leave it for 15 minutes before you rinse it off.
Exfoliation: Dead skin cells, if not removed timely, can make your skin appear dull and dehydrated. Regular exfoliating is the best way of getting rid of the dead skin cells. For this add half a spoon of oatmeal and 1 tsp of rose water - apply the mix on the face & around the neck and scrub for a couple of minutes and then can rinse it off with lukewarm water.
Papaya: Papaya consists of Vitamin C and A and an enzyme called Papain which acts as a cleaner to get rid of upper lip pigmentation. It propagates the renewal of new cells. Take 2 spoons of papaya paste and mix it well with a little rose water to make a thick paste. Apply it like a face mask and then rinse it off once it starts to dry.
Potatoes: Rich source of essential vitamins and minerals, due to its anti bleaching properties helps in the removal of acne pigmentation or blemishes. You can make a simple paste of the potato juice and dried orange peel powder. Pour the paste into an ice tray and freeze it. Take the frozen cubes of the mixture and gently massage it over the face and neck rinsing it afterwards.
Gram Flour: Gram flour has excellent characteristics that help in the absorption of oil and thus help the cleansing of the skin. Make a mixture that consists of two tbsp of gram flour and rose water to make it into a paste. Apply it to the pigmented areas around your mouth, and let it stay for 10 minutes. Rinse it off once it has dried up with cold water.

Take Away

Skin discolouration around the mouth is caused by excessive melanin production in your skin.

Sun exposure, hormonal changes, and medications are related to hyperpigmentation. Nutritional deficiencies, skin trauma, and other medical certain conditions may also cause skin discolouration.

In most cases, dark spots around the mouth aren’t harmful, and they only need treatment if they bother you. You can use a good pigmentation cream if you are not getting any results from certain home remedies. Consult a doctor if you suspect hyperpigmentation that may be related to an underlying medical condition.