DermTV – How to Treat Dark Upper Lip Skin [DermTV.com Epi #381]
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Lots of people have written DermTV asking us what causes and how to treat dark upper lip skin. In this episode, Dr. Schultz discusses the topic.
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[TRANSCRIPT]
Darkening of the upper lip is more often a problem for women than men. And obviously it’s more troublesome to women because it can look like a mustache! But today, I’m only going to talk about actual darkening of the upper lip skin, not hair, which is a different topic.
So, this darkening often looks like a horizontal tan or brown band across most of the upper lip, and it usually doesn’t touch the lip line. As a result, there’s a very thin strip of normal colored skin between the actual lip line and the dark appearing band. And this thin normal colored strip actually makes the band look darker because of the contrast of it’s normal color with the darker area.
The darkening is made up of hues of two different colors… Tan to brown hues from excess melanin pigment, and red to purple hues from tiny enlarged blood vessels. Usually, the tan browns are more prominent than the red purples.
The excess melanin causing the tan browns is caused by unprotected ultraviolet exposure of the affected skin. But, the reason it appears there and not elsewhere is because those skin cells were abnormally sensitized by normal female hormones, estrogen, to make excessive melanin pigment in response to UV damage. The estrogens can be from birth control pills, current or prior pregnancies, or just normal levels of estrogens. It’s almost like a localized form of melasma or cloasma. And as a point of interest, we don’t know why those cells become so exquisitely susceptible to making extra melanin pigment.
Unprotected UV exposure and subsequent UV damage also causes the tiny enlarged blood vessels that are responsible for the subtle red to purple hues… but again… it’s a mystery why they occur just in that band distribution.
The treatment of the tan browns is the same as treating chloasma… Use strict sun protection with chemfree sunscreens, topical depigmenting bleaches and gentle chemical exfoliants. The red purples can only be fixed by laser treatments that remove the enlarged blood vessels… Unfortunately, there still are no topical products that safely and effectively treat enlarged or broken blood vessels.
So while there is a way to treat dark upper lip skin, just remember, it got that way in the first place because it was so sensitive, and as a result, all of the treatments I’ve mentioned have to be very gentle.
[ABOUT DERMTV]
Everyone can have beautiful, healthy, and younger looking skin, and DermTV, the Internet’s daily skincare video show, will demonstrate how by revealing expert tips and techniques and by providing real solutions for real skincare issues.
Skincare (whether cosmetic or medical) previously required a trip to your dermatologist or a shopping spree at the pharmacy. And that’s if you have a trusted nearby dermatologist or a local informed pharmacy. But not anymore. We at DermTV are committed to making best-in-class dermatology and skincare guidance accessible to everyone, anytime, at your computer.
Every weekday, our host, Dr. Neal Schultz, one of New York’s most trusted and respected dermatologists (see bio below), teaches skincare’s most timely and timeless issues. Topics include: the best at home techniques and new technology for facial rejuvenation, preventing and fixing sun damage from wrinkles to skin cancer, breaking news in dermatology, general skincare topics, and more.
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Comments (30)
Bill nye science guys father ๐
I'm not being mean you both are identical.
I have this and im honestly not sure if it occurred because I wouldn't wear sunscreen outdoors, or maybe the fact that I wax my upper lip too often? Either way its annoying as hell
I'm 48 pre menopause on Premarin for Hot Flashes which have gone away but this dark patch is getting worse please help don't know what to do I've been using the hydroquinone around 8 months but nothing has helped
this is so annoying
read more
i have the darkning on my unibrow area it looks green it's literally ruining my life the hair there grows so thick and most of it is under skin …. pls is there any treatement ??
Please help me
My lips are very black
Hello sir I m from india this same problem with me….. I visit lots of doctors but this dark upper lip program not sort out… I need u r help sir
it really works
good video
Sir mera no le lijiye 9871343541
I am going in deprestion bcs of this ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญpls help me
I need to get rid of my estrogen
he talks too much but still thanks
I've recently gotten a darkness on the actual lip that looks like I'm wearing lip liner…what to do bout THAT?!!!!
The only true educational video i found so far on this topic.
This not only explains the possible cause but also it's treatment to some extent.
Better something than nothing.
,
any medical cream plzzz suggest
pls….pls…pls….
this upper lip shadow is ruining my life……..i no longer look at people at the face coz am so ashamed of it…
pls….any tin….jst help me
pls….pls…pls….
this upper lip shadow is ruining my life……..i no longer look at people at the face coz am so ashamed of it…
pls….any tin….jst help me
Anytime I shave my upper lip area it ends up turning greenish.. if I thread I get small little bumps but it doesn't get green (which is what I want but not under the cost of little pimples). So I'm thinking of getting laser hair removal on my upper lip area…. maybe that will help. Has anyone tried this? If so, what were your results??
this doctor was speaking my soul! …. until he mentioned lasers
One method I have found to work is 1 teaspoon of honey 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice 1 1/2 teaspoon of water.
Okay so I have this and it honestly ruins my life – it's probably my biggest insecurity. One method I've seen but haven't tried yet is applying a mixture of lemon juice and water on to your lip every night, then washing it off the next morning. Due to the fact lemon juice has a lightening effect, it lightens the darker area. I thought I'd share this to help you guys out because it is honestly so horrible. I'll give an update if it does ๐
Is it true hair removal creams like sally hanson darken skin?
When i was in elementary school i had severe exima on my upper lip, and eventually i got it to go away. Ever since i have had a dark upper lip. Its so annoying!!! Im not about to bleach my skin to make it go away, there has to be something else
I have a dark black spot under my bottom lip and idk how to lighten it :/
Everytime I remove hair around the lips by shaving or threaten I found it red and full of blood then it turn black I put creams to avoid that and it didn't work anyone pleade help
does lemon juice will help in lightning dark uper lips shadow?
Hi doctor, how can I stop or reduce the melanin production for my Asian skin please? Whenever I use the sun screen my skin breaks out. Please help. Many thanks