Excessive sun exposure, a poor diet, or a medical issue may bring on lip discoloration. Genetics, sun exposure, and general health are a few variables that may affect a person’s lip colour and texture. Changes in oxygen levels in the blood are responsible for the appearance of different skin tones.
Blood severely depleted in oxygen looks black or purple, whereas oxygenated blood is a vibrant red. It is possible that low blood oxygen levels or poor circulation are to blame for a person’s skin or lips becoming a bluish colour. Cyanosis is the medical term for this ailment. Cyanosis sets in at a haemoglobin oxygen saturation level of 85% or below. In this article, we will discuss lip discoloration in detail.
Causes of lip discoloration:
Cyanosis may be caused by issues with haemoglobin, in addition to anaemia, which is the most common cause. Cyanosis is a disorder that may be brought on by various medical problems, such as pneumonia, pleural effusion, blood clots, a heart attack, chemical exposure, or even simply being chilly.
Iron deficiency:
Iron deficiency anaemia is a kind of anaemia caused by a body’s iron shortage. Anaemia may cause a wide range of symptoms, some more severe than others. In cases of mild iron deficiency anaemia, no symptoms may present themselves.
Hemochromatosis:
Too much iron in the body may cause hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis has been connected to skin hyperpigmentation. There is a suitable option to alter the shade of your lips. Hemochromatosis has been associated with many symptoms, including joint inflammation, weariness, stomach discomfort, sudden weight loss, liver sickness, reduced libido, and impotence.
Birdsong of the Oral Thrush
When the yeast Candida develops out of control in the mouth, it causes oral candidiasis. Lousy breath, loss of taste, dry, cracked lips, trouble swallowing, and discomfort are some unpleasant symptoms that may result from oral thrush.
Intense UV Radiation from the Sun:
Intense sun exposure may cause sunspots, or actinic keratosis, to form on the skin. Your lips, face, back, chest, and arms are all potential locations for their appearance. Sunspots may be pretty diverse, ranging in size and appearance from microscopic to huge and in colour from tan to scarlet. Even though actinic keratosis lesions seem cancerous now, it doesn’t mean they will become malignant in the future. Lesions caused by actinic keratosis, which may lead to cancer, often appear red and swollen and have a rough texture.
Laugier-Hunziker syndrome affects a tiny group:
Dark brown patches occur on the lips and the inside of the mouth in people with Laugier-Hunziker syndrome, a benign skin disorder. Macules, which may range from 2 mm to 5 mm, can also appear at the tips of one’s fingers and toes. Laugier-Hunziker syndrome sufferers may safely avoid medical attention. But many individuals seek surgical excision of their macules for purely cosmetic reasons.
Drug interactions:
Some pharmaceuticals have been related to hyperpigmentation and other skin problems. Heavy metals are found in several commonly used medications. This includes antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antimalarials, tetracyclines and many more.
Allergies:
An allergic response to a component in a cosmetic or oral hygiene product might cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, and dryness of the lips. Lipsticks, leather, rubber, latex, topical treatments, scents, preservatives, and metals are a few of the many chemicals that may cause skin irritation. Redness, swelling, dry, flaky skin, hypersensitive skin, bleeding, and discomfort are all possible symptoms of allergies on the lips. Symptoms may subside if you stop taking the offending substance.
Treatment of lip discoloration:
Lip discoloration may have various reasons, and each can be treated in a unique way. If, for example, a patient’s lips have darkened because of a drug, they may want to discuss other options with their doctor. Oral thrush may be treated with antifungal tablets, lozenges, or mouthwash, as prescribed by your doctor.
Solaraze is some of the medical methods and products that may be used to address lip discoloration. With good dental hygiene and never smoking, it is possible to minimize sun damage and the darkening of the lips that comes with it by limiting the amount of time spent in direct sunlight and using a lip balm containing sunscreen. Diets rich in both the required nutrients and a variety of foods
When do you need to visit a doctor?
See a doctor if you’re uncomfortable with the size or shape of your lips. Lip discoloration may have several reasons, any of which can be identified by a medical professional. Suppose you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following signs. In that case, medical attention is recommended: Bleeding, rapid growth, failure to heal, and discomfort to the touch are all possible outcomes of the skin lesion that creates blue skin or lips. The ache in the chest and difficulty breathing deeply.
Could you restore your lips’ pink colour?
Your aim should be to have naturally pink lips that are also dewy and soft, and this is a realistic goal and one that you can achieve since it is a goal that you should strive to have. You may maintain the natural pink hue of your lips with the help of a number of various home treatments available to you. Certain foods and skin care habits might help you get pink lips faster.
Lip paint’s longevity:
The effects of having your lips blush might last for up to two years; however, the duration of these effects can vary from person to person. If you often expose your skin to smoking or sunlight, you should prepare for an accelerated loss of pigmentation in your skin’s surface cells. To keep your lip blush looking fresh for a more extended period, Dr Khetarpal suggests scheduling touch-up appointments at regular intervals.
Conclusion:
Causes of lip discoloration range from allergies and iron deficiencies to prolonged sun exposure and fungal infections. Lip discoloration treatments might focus on the symptom or the underlying cause. Anyone who has seen a change or growth on their lips should contact a doctor. Untreated lip sunspots may lead to malignant melanoma. Blue lips indicate poor circulation or oxygen deficiency. If you have any of these symptoms, you may have a medical emergency caused by blue lips.
FAQs:
Is there a way to get rid of the darkening of lips?
If Hyperpigmentation is prevented from worsening by sun avoidance, it would be great. The patches may fade over time, or a dermatologist may recommend a topical therapy to speed up the process.
Why did lips suddenly get so dark?
Hyperpigmentation may cause darkening of the lips. An excess of the pigment melanin causes the benign skin condition known as melasma. Lip hyperpigmentation may be brought on by too much time spent in the sun.
When should I begin considering lip shade?
Discoloration of the lips might indicate a life-threatening medical condition, such as asthma or COPD attack. If a person suddenly acquires blue or grey lips, they may need medical assistance, particularly if they have trouble breathing.