How to Cure Dark Lips

NOTE PLEASE: Readers are to test the remedies given at their own risk.

Dark lips are a common issue nowadays. They prove to be a major turn off, while taking away considerably from your self confidence and appearance. The major misconception regarding dark lips is that if your lips are naturally dark, then they will remain so and you can’t possibly get those pink, plump ones shown in the commercials. But if they have darkened due some other reasons then they can be cured, depending on the amount of damage of course. However, naturally dark lips can still be made to look healthy and fresh.

CAUSES:

There may be several causes that lead to darkening of lips: heavy intakes of caffeine; excessive smoking; use of sub standard lip colors and related products; exposure to the sun and dryness etc. in addition to this, certain health issues may even cause the lips to darken.

REMEDIES:

The most important thing to do in order to cure dark lips (or any other health/skin related problem) is to ensure a healthy and balanced diet that includes a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables along with loads and loads of water. Secondly, avoid caffeine, tea and smoking; a cup or two of coffee does no harm but excessive consumption can cause issues.  Protection from the sun is also very important; try using lip products that contain sun screen as UV rays cause pigmentation. Use only branded products for the lips, the wrong type of cosmetics (especially those with harsh chemicals in them can cause permanent darkening of lips). Also, if the lips are already dark, try minimizing the use of lipsticks.

Exfoliation, cleansing and moisturization of the lips is also as important as that of the rest of the skin. Following are some home remedies designed to target the issue of darkened lips.

Glycerine and Lemon: Lemon juice is known for its whitening abilities. Using a mixture of glycerine, lemon and honey will help to remove the discoloration. You’ll need to apply this daily for several weeks until you see the results.

Olive oil: Make a lip scrub by mixing a teaspoon of sugar with a little bit of olive oil and a few drops of lemon juice. Before going to sleep, gently scrub your lips to help to exfoliate and use a little clarified butter with 2 drops of lemon to moisturise and lighten them. 

Yoghurt and Honey: Make a paste of equal parts lemon juice, graham flour, yogurt, and honey, and rub it onto your lips. Leave for about half an hour and then wash off.

Almonds, butter and milk: Apply almond milk, almond oil, or cream made from milk, and let it stay on your lips for about one hour. Continue using this treatment daily for several weeks to lighten your lips.

Other Natural Ingredients: Beet root juice, coriander juice and pomegranate juice are all really good lighteners. Cucumber is good too; rubbing a slice of cucumber over the lips in circles, for a minute or two daily, really helps too. You can also use a solution of cocoa butter, avocado and peanut oil along with cucumber, mulberry and bearberry extract.

Exfoliate Regularly: Exfoliation is essential in order to remove the dead skin and lessen the lines on the lips. Gently exfoliate your lips with toothbrush every night after you brush your teeth. This will help you to erase dead skins from your lips to give a fresh glow. However, do not forget to use Vaseline or balm on your lips after cleaning them. This will also help you to cure lip cracks. You can also use a mixture of sugar and olive oil for the purpose of exfoliation.

Moisturization Helps: Keeping the lips moisturized can help making them appear lighter. Clarified butter and Vaseline can do the job really well. Apply these before sleeping at night and during the day use as required.

In case your issue has reached the extreme and the home remedies don’t help, consult your dermatologist for it may be a symptom of some underlying health issue. Chemical treatments to cure dark lips must only be done in consultation with a specialist.