How to Remove Dark Skin Around the Mouth

Dark spots around the mouth can have many causes. Although annoying, luckily these dark spots can be removed. This article will guide you on how to diagnose and treat dark skin around the mouth.

Table of Contents

Diagnosing dark areas

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Understand why there are dark spots around the mouth. These spots are usually caused by the amount of melanin that darkens the skin in certain areas of the skin. Melanin can be elevated due to internal and external stimuli. An increase in melanin is called hyperpigmentation. Triggers can be from sun exposure, melasma, and dermatitis.

Age spots (sunburn spots): These clusters of dark brown spots can take months, even years, to appear on sun-exposed skin. When they do appear, they usually don’t go away unless treated. This pigmentation change occurs near the surface of the skin and can be treated with creams and scrubs. Regular use of sunscreen helps prevent age spots from appearing or becoming severe.
Chloasma: These symmetrical dark spots appear due to hormonal changes (due to use of birth control pills or during pregnancy). When these hormones are exposed to sunlight, melasma spots can appear on the cheeks, forehead, or upper lip. This form of hyperpigmentation often recurs, even with treatment.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: If you have a dark skin tone, dark spots are more likely to appear after burns, acne or other damage to the skin. In that case, the melanin is deep in the skin and dark spots can occur. It takes 6-12 months to fade.

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Consider the climate factor. The skin around the lips is often drier in the cold season. Some people often lick their lips to moisten and this leads to darkening of the skin. If you don’t go out in the sun a lot, it’s easy to over-wet the skin around your mouth. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Know that the skin around the mouth is very thin. Thin skin can lead to skin discoloration, dryness, and the formation of wrinkles around the mouth. These problems are not deep in the skin so you do not need invasive treatment. Skin discoloration can be easily eliminated by treating or exfoliating the skin.

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Go see a dermatologist. If you’re not sure what’s causing the dark skin around your mouth, you should see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Changes in skin color can be an early sign of skin cancer and many other serious disorders, so it’s best to see your doctor to get your symptoms checked.

Creams, scrubs and prescription drugs

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Exfoliate daily with a gentle product. Exfoliating products help remove dead skin cells and gradually fade the dark skin around the mouth. Dab a small amount of exfoliating product (the size of a pea) onto a damp cloth. Gently rub the towel over your face to remove pigment-carrying skin cells and clear skin.

You can find exfoliating products at drugstores, cosmetic stores, and specialty stores that sell body care products. Read product reviews carefully before buying. Some exfoliating products are used to treat acne and other skin problems; They often use acids and chemicals to clean the skin.

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Use an over-the-counter skin lightening cream. You can find skin lightening and moisturizing products at drugstores and beauty stores. Look for creams that contain vitamin C, kojic acid (extracted from certain species of fungi), arbutin (from cranberries), azelaic acid (from wheat, barley, and rye), licorice extract, niacinamide, or grape seed extract. These ingredients help block the enzyme tyrosinase – the enzyme that skin cells need to produce melanin. Apply a thin layer of cream to the skin around the mouth. Follow the directions and do not use the lightening cream for more than 3 weeks. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Kojic acid is a common treatment, but it can irritate the skin so you need to be careful.

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Consider using a prescription cream. If the dark spots don’t go away, your dermatologist may prescribe a medicated cream like Hydroquinone. Hydroquinone inhibits melanocytes and slows the production of tyrosinase in the skin. Dark spots usually disappear quickly as the amount of pigment produced decreases.

Animal studies have shown an association between hydroquinone and cancer, but the animals were fed and injected with the drug. Treatments in humans are mainly topical and there are no studies showing that hydroquinone causes toxicity in humans. Therefore, many dermatologists disagree with the idea that hydroquinone is related to cancer. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Most patients show the first signs of skin lightening within a few days, and most effects last within 6 weeks. After your treatment, you can switch to an over-the-counter cream to keep your pigmentation light.

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Try laser treatment. Lasers like Fraxel are often the most effective and long-lasting way to treat discoloration near the surface of the skin. However, the effect of laser treatment is not always permanent. Effectiveness will depend on genetics, UV exposure, and your skin care routine. Laser treatment is also often more expensive than other treatments.

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Try a peel-off mask made of glycpic acid or salicylic acid. A dermatologist may recommend a mask to reach and treat damaged cells deep in the skin. Note that the effect of peel-off masks is not permanent. Depending on genetic predisposition and exposure to UV rays, dark spots can recur after weeks or years. Avoid sun exposure and treat dark spots early to ensure long-term effectiveness.

Natural ingredients

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Lighten skin naturally with lemon juice. Mix the juice of 1/4 lemon with 1 tablespoon of honey or yogurt in a small bowl. Rinse your face with warm water to help open pores. Apply a thick layer of the mixture on the dark skin and wait for the mask to dry. Gently rinse the skin with warm water.

You can pour a mixture of 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and sugar onto a cotton pad. Rub the cotton pad on the dark skin for 2-3 minutes and then wash it off with water.
To increase the effect, you can cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice on the black skin. Wash off after 10 minutes.
Avoid sun exposure after using lemon. You should use lemon in the evening, when you are not exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun.

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Use aloe. Apply aloe vera gel or fresh aloe extract to the dark skin. This helps to moisturize and repair the skin. Aloe vera is most helpful for skin darkened by sun exposure.

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Mix grated cucumber with lemon juice. Use a moderate amount of ingredients in a 1:1 ratio, enough to evenly apply the black skin. Apply the mixture around your mouth and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. This method helps the skin to recover. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Use a powder and turmeric mask. Prepare a mixture of 1 g of flour, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1/2 cup of curd. Apply the mixture to the dark skin and leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.

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Use oats to exfoliate. Prepare an exfoliating mixture from 1 tablespoon of oats, 1 teaspoon of tomato juice, 1 teaspoon of curd. Mix ingredients together. Gently rub the mixture on the skin for about 3-5 minutes and then wash it off after 15 minutes.

Advice

Don’t forget to moisturize your skin.
Rub gently. Do not rub too hard to avoid hurting or scarring around the mouth.
Scrubbing to exfoliate can be painful at first, but you’ll get used to it.

Steps

Diagnosing dark areas

Creams, scrubs and prescription drugs

Natural ingredients

Advice

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