Lip Discoloration
Lip Discoloration – Why It Happens and What You Can Do About It
Lip discoloration refers to the changes in lip color that some people experience. There are a wide variety of issues that can cause lip discoloration. Lip discoloration is mostly not an indication of any serious health issue. It can, however, make a person feel very self-conscious and affect their self-confidence. Lips are front and centre when we deal with the world and it is hard to forget or ignore the situation. However, the truth is unless there is truly dramatic color variation most other people may not even register the changes in lip color that bother the person experiencing the problem. So, in the short term the best solution is to brave it out instead of trying to hide it or develop quirky facial expressions to deal with the issue. In the long-term, the best strategy is to figure out what is causing the problem and address the root problem.
Smoking, poor quality lipstick or other lip cosmetics, chewing tobacco and drinking excessive amounts of coffee are among some of the things that can change the natural color of your lip. If you find a progressive darkening of your lips over time, one of these may be the reason. It makes sense to discontinue the product that may be causing the problem. Nicotine, caffeine or tobacco addiction may not be easy to get out of overnight but you can definitely change your cosmetics and see if that helps with recovering your lip color. Try and find a brand that works with your skin type rather than focusing only on the color. Also, use the lip discoloration as a motivation to beat your smoking or caffeine habit.
Practitioners of herbal remedy believe that drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day can be a big step toward getting your old lip color back. The idea is that water flushes away the toxins in the body on a regular basis and allows the body to find its natural balance. Applying lime juice or a combination of lime juice and glycerin are also said to be effective in restoring lip color. Clarified butter is also recommended as a tried-and –tested home remedy in many cultures around the world.
There are occasions when lip discoloration can indicate some deeper problems. If you are seeing your lip color turn blue in a fairly short interval and are feeling extremely cold, it is a sign that your body is struggling to get enough oxygen. As the body reroutes oxygen to vital organs, the skin gets less of the oxygen-enriched blood and this is most apparent in the blueness of the lips. This lip discoloration indicates that you have to provide your body more warmth. Covering yourself with blankets and doing some aerobic activity are both good ways of generating more warmth and helping your body acquire more oxygen.
Sometimes your lips may turn blue when the weather is not particularly cold – this is again an indication of inadequate oxygen to your body but in this case it may be a sign of an internal dysfunction in the heart or lung. You should go immediately to the emergency room to have the situation assessed by a medical professional.
An iron deficiency is known to produce lip discoloration. So if you suspect that this is the case, you should go to the doctor and get a blood test to confirm the possibility. A course of iron supplements can go a long way in restoring the body’s hemoglobin levels. You can also adjust your diet to make sure that you have adequate levels of iron in your daily diet.
Badly chapped lips can also start to look discolored. This is probably the easiest of lip discoloration causes to address because by using lip balms regularly you can provide your lips the moisture they need and help restore their healthy glow.
Excessive sun exposure can lead to lip discoloration and using sunscreen, which is now acknowledged as a medical necessity for skin health, can also help the state of your lips.