Having black spots on lips is not an unusual occurrence. Those who have them are normally very conscious about them especially since it affects their physical appearance. For some, the occurrence of black spots on the lips feels unattractive while others find it embarrassing. There are several factors that can cause discoloration of the lips including modern lifestyles, certain medications and eating habits. Many home remedies can diminish the black spots.

Remedies for Black Spots on Lips

Fortunately, black spots on lips can be remedied in a number of ways:

1. Use Lemon Juice

This is one of the natural home remedies for black spots. Lemon has bleaching properties that can help you get rid of the black spots. Take some lemon juice and apply it on the black spots for a few nights before going to bed will in time lighten the patches.

2. Use Apple Cider Vinegar or Beetroot

Other than the above mentioned remedies, you can also use apple cider vinegar or beetroot on your lips as they are also bleaching agents and can return the natural color of your lips.

3. Apply Glycerin and Rose Petals Mixture

Another alternative is applying the moisture of glycerin and rose petals to your lips before retiring for bed. Rose petals have been known to be effective in removing the tinge found on your lips normally caused by smoking.

Homemade Remedy to Lighten Dark Spots on Lips:

4. Keep a Healthy Diet

This means that you have enough water so that the body (inclusive of the lips) stays hydrated throughout the day, avoid hot foods because high temperatures tend to exacerbate the black color of the spots on your lips. Limit the intake of tea & coffee from a couple of cups daily to a cup a day. Reduce the intake of iron especially if you have been taking supplements. It is also advisable to check the kind of medication you're taking as it may have caused the black spots as a side effect.

5. Absorb Enough Vitamin C

Smokers should also ensure that each meal they take contains Vitamin C. This is because Vitamin C is essential in collagen production. Collagen aids in building of new tissues and so if the lips are chopped and stained, the old tissues will get replaced with new evenly colored skin.

6. Cover the Spot

Women who have black spots on their lips can cover up the spots with lipstick. They can wear bold colored lipstick like red or even a darker color like deep purple. However, they should avoid old or expired lipstick.

7. Use a Chapstick

Using a Chapstick is a great way to ensure that you do not frequently lick or bite your lips. It will also moisten dry lips.

8. Avoid Sun Exposure

Too much sun tends not only to dry the lips but causes black spots on your lips. It is, therefore, advisable to avoid exposing yourself (more so the lips) to the sun. You can do this by wearing moisturizer or lip-gloss. Vaseline petroleum oil is also useful in keeping the lips moist.

9. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

If those dark spots on your lips have been caused by prolonged tobacco chewing or smoking, it is best you abstain from both activities. This will bring about significant changes in the lip color over time.

10. Be Careful with Lip Care Products

Use lip care products from reliable manufacturers. Keep the lips moisturized and soft at all times by applying lip gloss, clarified butter or cold creams.

11. Consult a Dermatologist or Dentist

If the above mentioned remedies do not work over a long duration, you need to consult a dermatologist or dentist. The doctor will do some tests to determine the main cause of the spots thus recommend the most suitable treatment.

Causes of Black Spots on Lips

Some of the common causes of black spots on the lips include:

1. Deficiency of Vitamin B. It causes, among other things, angular cheilitis that's characterized by cracking and inflammation of the corners of your lips and may result in fungal infection.

2. Hormone imbalances. This is caused by thyroid imbalance is known to cause dry lips and in the long-run black spots on lips.

3. Using expired/old lipstick. Old lipstick may contain products that are harmful to the lips hence causing the black spots.

4. Dental fixtures that don’t fit well. Visit your dentist to determine whether the fixtures are the ones causing the black spots on lips. If they are, they can be fixed to fit properly and the spots and be removed using laser surgery.

5. Dry lips. Dry lips cause chipping of the top skin of the lips which leaves room for infections on the lips. Black spots may also occur as a result.

6. Hyper pigmentation(too much pigment disposition). Sometimes, the black spots on the lips may be caused by excess pigmentation on the lips.

7. Cancer. Although such cases are rare, the black spots might be a sign of lip cancer. It normally affects your lower lip, and you may also notice some lumps. This cancer mostly occurs when the lip is repeatedly exposed to the sun. Those most at risk of getting this type of cancer are people who have outdoor jobs.

8. Drinking or smoking. Nicotine can stain your lips leading to the formation of black spots.

9. Excess iron in your body.

10. Consumption of hot/caffeinated beverages like tea or coffee

11. Constant lip biting or lip licking.