Hyperpigmentation Around Mouth: Causes, Treatment, and Home Remedies

Hyperpigmentation around the mouth is one of the most common problems women face worldwide. It can be due to various reasons like aging, trauma to skin, or wrong hair removal techniques. 

Dark spots around the face give us a weird appearance and make us more self-conscious. So, we will discuss all the possible causes and treatment options of hyperpigmentation in this article. In the end, you will surely be less worried about dark spots and more confident about your skin. 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: What is Hyperpigmentation?
• Part 2: Types of Hyperpigmentation Around the Mouth
• Part 3: Why Do I Have Hyperpigmentation Around My Mouth?
• Part 4:  How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation Around Mouth?

Part 1: What is Hyperpigmentation?

“Hyper indicates” more and “pigmentation” means coloration. When we talk about hyperpigmentation in terms of skin, it is a condition in which certain areas of your body become darker than others. It can make your skin appear patchy giving a red, brown, or black tone. 

It can occur in all races and ethnicities. However, in certain types like melasma, the condition is more common in highly pigmented people like Asians or Hispanics.

What does highly pigmented mean? We get our beautiful skin, hair, and eye colors thanks to the melanin pigment in the body. It accumulates in the basal layer of the epidermis giving a certain tone to the skin. The higher the amount of melanin, the darker the skin tone. Certain factors like overexposure to the sun, aging, trauma, and skin injuries can cause overproduction of melanin. This ultimately leads to hyperpigmentation. 

Part 2: Types of Hyperpigmentation Around the Mouth

Melasma

Melasma is a skin condition in which exposure to heat, sun, or hormonal changes can lead to the overproduction of melanin. It can be commonly seen in pregnant women, those using oral contraceptives, or those who have undergone hormonal replacement therapy. This causes broad dark patches to appear on the skin. These dark patches are usually found on the face, cheeks, forehead, and around the lips. 

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs as a result of injury, trauma, or thermal burns to the skin. Other common causes of PIH include infection, allergic reactions, razor bumps, and bug bites. It can occur at any age but is more common in people with darker skin tones.

The good thing is that these dark skin spots caused by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation resolve on their own as the inflammation subsides. However, the process can be a bit slower and can take months to years.  

Sunspots

Sunspots also known by the name age spots, solar lentigines, and age spots are the third type of hyperpigmentation. They can be seen as dark, patchy, small, and flat areas on the skin more commonly on the shoulders, face, arms, and hands. 

They occur after the age of 40 but excessive exposure to the UV rays of the sun can trigger melanin overproduction at a younger age. Fortunately, they are harmless spots and can be treated with medications or other at-home remedies. 

Part 3: Why Do I Have Hyperpigmentation Around My Mouth?

Pregnancy

The most common type of hyperpigmentation seen in pregnancy is melasma around the mouth. During pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations occur that stimulate the production of melanocytes directly or indirectly. Increased production of these cells increases pigment production and accumulation in the skin thus making it appear darker. 

Medication

Medications such as NSAIDs, antimalarial drugs, antibiotics, antineoplastic drugs, and anticonvulsants affect the production of melanin in the body. Moreover, chemotherapeutic agents can also be culprits of hyperpigmentation. About 10-20% of people presenting with hyperpigmentation acquire it due to their medications. The patterns and texture of darkened skin can vary depending on the causative agent. 

Sun Exposure

Melanin is our body’s natural sunscreen that protects it from the UV rays of the sun. However, continuous exposure to the sun stimulates the over-production of this skin-darkening pigment. Moreover, pigment distribution becomes uneven throughout the epidermis. As a result, these continuously exposed areas become darker than other body parts. 

Skin Trauma

Some of you must have noticed how your skin darkens after hair removal, especially after waxing, laser, or IPL. Waxing irritates the skin while laser or IPL hair removal causes thermal damage to the skin. Due to trauma to the skin, inflammatory mediators stimulate the activity of melanocytes making them produce more melanin. This ultimately leads to hyperpigmentation. 

Metabolic Diseases

Lastly, certain metabolic diseases can also be a contributing factor to hyperpigmentation of the mouth. For example, in Addison’s disease mainly adrenal glands are affected. This triggers the production of melanocyte-stimulating hormone which in turn causes hyperpigmentation. Additionally, thyroid disorders and vitamin deficiencies can worsen the condition. 

Part 4:  How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation Around Mouth?

Looking for some hyperpigmentation around mouth treatment options? There are various options in which you can choose to either get treated by a professional or try home remedies. Let’s get into their details one by one. 

Treatment Options

Skin Lightening Products

To treat hyperpigmentation around the mouth, you can use over-the-counter skin-lightening creams. The results depend upon the ingredients present in these products. For instance, ingredients such as Vitamin C, kojib acid, glabiridin, and niacinamide can work against hyperpigmentation. They inhibit the production of tyrosinase which catalyzes the release of melanin. Due to inhibition of melanin and increased rate of cell turnover, hyperpigmentation reduces and your skin looks brighter.  

Chemical Peels

Using chemical peels can also help you get rid of hyperpigmentation in your mouth quickly. These peels exfoliate the outer dead layer of skin thus exposing brighter skin and improving the skin complexion. The removal of dead cells also stimulates the production of new healthy cells which is essential for attaining an even skin tone. For this purpose, chemical peels with salicylic acid are the most useful ones.

Laser Treatment

Skin-lightening products and chemical peels do not offer a permanent solution to hyperpigmentation. If you want to treat hyperpigmentation once and for all, go for laser treatment. The light emitted by laser devices targets melanin breaks it down, and promotes the cell renewal process. 

The best option for this purpose is the Fraxel laser treatment which reduces hyperpigmentation and boosts collagen production. Also, keep in mind that a laser can treat hyperpigmentation around the mouth but cannot prevent the skin from discoloration in the future. 

Microdermabrasion

As the name indicates, microdermabrasion is the process of removing the unhealthy epidermis using a thin needle-like tool. As the dermatologist moves this tool across the skin, the upper dead cell layer is removed. This promotes the growth of healthy cells thus improving your skin tone. Worried about pain since the treatment is for the face? No need to worry because it will be a little uncomfortable but not painful. 

IPL Therapy

Lastly, you also have IPL therapy as an option. Similar to laser therapy, IPL also targets melanin on the area where it is accumulated, breaking it down into smaller particles, and reducing the dark appearance of skin. The heat produced by this broad-spectrum light also increases the production of collagen. 

If you take proper care of your skin after the treatment, the results can last for several years with only occasional maintenance sessions required. 

Natural Remedies to Treat Hyperpigmentation Around Mouth

Lemon Juice

Using lemon juice can be an excellent way of lightening the skin. Its main content, citric acid, has bleaching properties and can reduce the dark spots around the mouth. You can directly use lemon juice on the face. After application, wait for 15 minutes and rinse it off. 

However, it can be a bit stinging for the skin so do a patch test before the actual application. 

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a natural skin-soothing agent that also has antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. It has a compound called Aloin that can effectively reduce dark spots, treat patchy areas around the mouth, and hydrate the skin. So, the regular use of a single ingredient can help you with everything!

For results, apply pure aloe vera gel for half an hour on the areas around the lips and then rinse it off. 

Oatmeal Scrub

An oatmeal scrub containing oatmeal, honey, and milk can be enough for hyperpigmentation. To make the scrub, mix 1 tablespoon of powdered oatmeal with honey and milk. After thoroughly mixing, apply the mixture to your face and gently massage it. This exfoliates the dead skin cells, moisturizes the skin, and brings out the fresh cells with a lighter complexion. 

Turmeric Paste

Turmeric, being anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, can also help with hyperpigmentation. Mix one table of turmeric powder with one tablespoon of gram flour and half a tablespoon of yogurt. Massage the mixture on your face for a minute and rinse it off. The lactic acid of yogurt acts as a natural bleaching agent that reduces dark spots while curcumin in turmeric reduces melanin production. 

Also read: Home Remedies for Skin Whitening

How to Cover Hyperpigmentation Around Mouth with Makeup

All the treatments for hyperpigmentation take time. So, you can temporarily cover the area around your mouth with makeup to hide the dark spots. 

Color Correction

A color corrector chosen according to your skin tone can help you hide hyperpigmentation perfectly. For instance, for lighter skin tones orange color corrector while for darker tones, the red corrector works the best. 

Do not have a color corrector? Use an orange concealer instead. Apply the concealer over the required area and then apply foundation. For a flawless finish, use a mineral-based powder to set the makeup. 

Use a Foundation that Matches Your Undertone

After applying the concealer, go for a foundation that fits best with your undertone. To choose the undertone, look at your veins. Blue or purple veins indicate a cool undertone while green veins indicate a warm undertone and blue-green color indicates a neutral undertone. 

Use Tinted Primers

Primers are available in both tinted and untinted options. However, if you have dark spots or patchy skin then go for a tinted primer. It will let the makeup stay on your face without giving it a cakey appearance. Moreover, the tint can color-correct the patchy areas of the face giving you a more natural look. 

Conclusion

Hyperpigmentation is neither painful nor highly deleterious for your skin and health. But the dark skin around the mouth affects the appearance which in turn reduces self-confidence. The looks of every other person make things even worse. 

To solve this, you can use skin-lightening products or long-lasting at-office therapies like IPL and laser. If you do not like any of these, you can also try some at-home remedies with natural ingredients like lemon, honey, or aloe vera. Keep in mind that everything takes time so you need to be patient and trust the process to attain effective results.