Connector December 2023

CONNECTOR.AE 48 CONNECTOR.AE 49 Health and Wellness Health and Wellness Lip Pigmentation: Causes, Treatment, Home Remedies True beauty isn’t solely about using pricey skincare products or adhering to a complex routine. It’s rooted in caring for your natural skin through a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and a healthy lifestyle, nurturing every aspect of your face. While many concentrate on areas like under the eyes, dark circles, cheeks, and forehead, the significance of lip care is often overlooked. Occasionally, people may notice black spots on their lips and attribute them to using incorrect products, but in reality, it’s known as lip pigmentation or lip discolouration. Lip pigmentation refers to the darkening or uneven colour of the lips. Commenting on this, Dr Rusnei Schmitz, Dermatologist, at Dubai Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, says, “Darkening of the lips occurs due to increased melanin deposits in the lip region. Similar to hyperpigmentation, this condition can stem from enhanced exposure to sunlight, with additional lifestyle contributors such as dietary choices, and food allergies impacting the pigmentation of the mouth.” What Causes Lip Pigmentation The lips have fewer layers than the rest of the skin, making them thinner and allowing the colour of blood vessels to show through. Unlike the rest of the skin, lips lack sweat glands and hair follicles, so they don’t sweat or produce sebum to protect against external factors. It’s important to keep your lips moisturised regularly. Various factors, aside from genetics, can cause changes in lip colour, and here’s everything to know about them. 1. Sun Exposure: Lip pigmentation can be triggered by various factors, with sun exposure being a major contributor. Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to an excess production of melanin, causing hyperpigmentation on the lips. Due to their delicate nature, lips are vulnerable to harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays, leading to discolouration and dehydration. 2. Dehydration: Water plays a crucial role in supporting kidney function, promoting digestion, and contributing to healthy skin. When we don’t consume enough water, our skin, including our lips, can become dehydrated, leading to darkening. Adequate fluid intake helps clear pigmentation and eliminates toxins from our bodies, promoting overall skin health. 3. Continuous Lip Biting: Frequent lip biting, especially during moments of stress, is common and acceptable occasionally. However, excessive lip biting, particularly when lips are dry and chapped, can lead to dehydration. When we habitually bite at the dry parts of our lips or excessively lick them, the saliva draws away moisture, leaving the lips dehydrated. 4. Wrong Lip Product And Poor Lip Care Routine: Many everyday cosmetics are often filled with chemicals. Some of these may react unfavourably with our skin, potentially causing allergic reactions and darkening or further pigmentation of the lips. Since lip skin is more delicate than the rest of the body, it’s essential to adopt a proper lip care routine to give the lips the care they need. 5. Too Much Salt Consumption: Consuming too much salt can contribute to dryness, and spice can lead to flakiness and irritation on the lips. Remember that whatever you eat touches your lips first before entering your body. To maintain a healthy lip barrier, it’s important to moderate your intake of salt and spice. 6. Vitamin B Deficiency: If you’ve experienced discomfort like cracks and dryness at the corners of your lips, it might be attributed to a deficiency in Vitamin B, particularly Vitamin B7 and B12. This deficiency can display in symptoms such as dry, chapped, and cracked lips.

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