Dark lips are a condition in which the lips become discolored, turning dark or black, instead of maintaining their natural pink color. Dark lips can appear on the lip border or the entire lip, one or both lips.
Causes of dark lips include genetics, aging, endocrine, overexposure to sunlight, infections, eczema, other medical diseases… Some habits can also cause dark lips, such as drinking lots of tea and coffee, frequent lip smacking, smoking. Using lipstick containing high levels of lead or being allergic to lipstick ingredients can cause dark spots. Patients who are allergic to pain relievers, fever reducers, and toothpaste can also cause lips to become inflamed and hyperpigmented.
Dark lips do not affect health but cause loss of aesthetics and affect the patient’s psychology. This condition can be treated, depending on the cause, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment methods.
If your lips are slightly dark, your doctor may prescribe a topical medication to help reduce lip pigmentation. Moderate or severe cases of dark lips can be treated with laser, which is the most modern and commonly applied method today. This method uses light with wavelengths capable of breaking down melanin under the lips, which is then eliminated by the body. In addition, modern lasers also combine long pulse lasers to increase blood circulation and make lips pink.
Laser is effective quickly after a few treatments, painless, and requires no downtime. Depending on the condition of each person’s dark lips, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate laser. In case of dark lips due to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, UV rays… can be treated with pico laser with extremely short wavelength, breaking down melanin particles, making lips brighter.
In case of dark lips associated with aging, it can be treated with 4D dynamics laser technology. This is modern and advanced laser technology that helps lips increase collagen, remove dull epithelial layers, and naturally pink lips. Dermatology – Skin Aesthetics Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City applies both of these technologies to treat dark lips. The number of times the treatment is performed depends on each person’s response, ranging from 4-5 times, every two weeks.
The doctor adjusts the parameters on the 4D dynamics laser machine to treat dark lips. Illustration photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
You should visit a reputable facility so the doctor can evaluate your lip condition and recommend optimal treatment. During laser treatment, you may be prescribed some additional topical products to help your lips become healthier, recover faster and reduce dark spots.
In addition to treatment with the above methods, many people choose tattooing to get rid of dark lips. However, lip tattooing can also cause some complications such as infection due to unsanitary tools, poor quality tattoo ink, uneven ink spreading on the lips, and improper aftercare.
You should adjust your habits to make your lips pink such as drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, staying mentally relaxed, exfoliating your lips, using lip balm, and avoiding using poor quality lipstick. Do not exfoliate your lips more than 1-2 times per week, it can dry and peel your lips.