Pigment spots are local darkening of the skin surface, which is a consequence of impaired melanin production. In women, pigmentation most often appears on the face, in particular in the lip area. Hyperpigmentation above the upper lip is not only a discomfort regarding appearance, but also a reason to take a closer look at your health. If the cause of pigmentation is identified and treated, the spots will disappear on their own. But there are also cosmetic procedures that can help get rid of pigmentation above the upper lip.
Why do they appear?
Let's figure out why pigmentation appears above the upper lip. Any dark spots appear due to excess melanin synthesis. This pigment is “responsible” for the color of human skin. The more melanin, the darker the skin tone. And since pigment production increases under the influence of sunlight , the skin darkens after tanning.
But the appearance of age spots is not always associated solely with solar radiation. The following reasons can cause this defect:
- hormonal disorders , such spots may appear due to dysfunction of the thyroid gland, hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause;
- use of medications containing hormones , including birth control pills;
- Addison's disease , in which the functions of the adrenal glands are impaired.
The main reason for the formation of pigmentation on the upper lip is hormonal imbalance. But the predisposing factor is solar radiation. Therefore, spots appear mainly in spring and summer, and may fade in winter.
Sometimes dark spots on the skin appear after damage has healed. For example, a spot may remain in the place of a healed deep pimple. Sometimes pigmentation appears after hair removal of the mustache using creams. Darkening of the skin reacts to contact with the chemicals included in the cream.
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Getting rid of stains at home
While there are clinical ways to remove hair and dark spots, we'll focus on cheap, natural, and easy ways you can do at home.
Lemon mask
Mustache stains can be removed with the help of lemon, an ingredient that acts as a natural lightener. This method is very effective, especially if you have thin hairs above your lip. To achieve mustache removal with lemon, apply fresh lemon juice to your hair every night.
Some lemon home treatments for skin lightening recommend leaving the lemon juice overnight, but this should not be done. Lemon juice is an acid. And although it's a mild acid, it can still damage your skin if you leave it on for too long. This is because it will disrupt the natural PH balance in your skin.
So, when you are done lightening your skin with lemon juice, carefully rinse off any remaining residue and apply your regular moisturizer. If you do this regularly, you will soon see the effective effects of lemon on your deficiency.
Chamomile and honey
Chamomile is also a good remedy for removing mustache stains at home as it has properties that help whiten the skin. These properties are found in natural chemicals that are very beneficial and skin lightening is one of them.
Prepare a chamomile infusion and add a little honey to it. If you want to enhance the scent of this natural remedy a little, you can add rose water. Apply it to your mustache using a cotton pad. Leave for 15 minutes, rinse carefully with warm water
If you repeat this process 2 times a week, you will notice the brightening effect of chamomile.
Even used (not hot) chamomile tea bags can work wonders on your skin. The higher the concentration of chamomile, the better.
Yogurt and carrots
Carrot is an astringent that effectively lightens skin blemishes and removes marks caused by acne. But it will also help remove mustache stains.
Grate the carrots and add them to natural yogurt. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until you get a homogeneous mass. Then, apply the mixture to the mustache spots and leave for 20 minutes.
Carefully rinse off the paste with warm water. Do this procedure once a week
Like lemon, it is not recommended to leave this mixture for long, and it is not recommended to apply it without mixing it with the paste. This is because carrot juice contains beta-carotene, a dark pigment that gives carrots their color. If you leave only carrot paste on your skin, this pigment will turn your dark upper lip orange.
Cucumber and apple cider vinegar
If you have sensitive skin, homemade mustache remover with cucumber and apple cider vinegar contains two elements that will help whiten your skin without causing irritation.
You need to take 2 slices of cucumber; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.
Grate the cucumber, then mix it with apple cider vinegar and apply it to the dark spots above the upper lip. Leave this mixture for 10 minutes, remove it with warm water. The cucumber in this mixture helps counteract some of the dangerous properties of vinegar. In this case, as in the case of lemon, it is sour. Do not apply it to the skin without mixing, and do not leave it on for a long time.
Hydrogen peroxide lotions
Another way to use home remedies is hydrogen peroxide. This product contains whitening properties that help reduce skin tones quickly. This is the same chemical that is used in hair dye and also works when you want to remove dark mustache stains.
However, hydrogen peroxide is a very strong chemical, so make sure you know what you are using before you apply it to your skin.
The method of application is very simple:
Soak a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide. Apply it to the mustache area using gentle strokes. Leave for 10 minutes. Rinse carefully with water. If you have dry skin, apply sunscreen to prevent UV rays from being exposed to the sun.
How to get rid of it?
It must be said that it is extremely difficult to effectively disguise pigment spots above the upper lip. To eliminate the defect, some girls try to use a dark foundation, but the result is disastrous. Pigment spots appear through the layer of cosmetics and look even more unaesthetic.
To cover up stains, you need to use special corrective products - concealers. Moreover, the color of the concealer must be chosen depending on the color of the stain. After all, pigment formations can have different shades - from red to dark brown.
Constantly putting on complex makeup is not the best solution. Therefore, you can try to remove pigment spots above the lip. Let's figure out how this can be done.
Where to begin?
To get rid of pigment spots above the upper lip, you need to make an appointment with an endocrinologist. You will need to undergo a full examination to identify the causes of the spots. To do this, you will have to undergo a series of tests to find out if there are any malfunctions in the functions:
- pituitary gland;
- adrenal glands;
- ovaries.
If the examination reveals problems, treatment will be required. Perhaps this will be replacement therapy, that is, you will need to take medications to restore normal hormonal balance. After restoration of health, the spots most often go away on their own without taking additional measures.
If there are no health problems, and the appearance of spots is associated with an excessive love of tanning in a solarium or on the beach, then to eliminate them you can use the capabilities of modern cosmetology, or try to remove spots at home, using affordable and safe folk remedies.
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Solutions to the problem
People with increasing darkening of the dermis often think about how to get rid of a cosmetic defect. Excessive sensitivity of the skin in the delicate area of the face is the reason why not every procedure is indicated for patients.
Ways to fix the problem:
- Whitening creams. For lightening, you cannot use products with a scrubbing effect to prevent the formation of cracks and micro-wounds.
- Laser removal. A gentle procedure that helps to easily remove the top layer of epithelium and restore the natural shade. There is a risk of scarring.
- Elos therapy. Current therapy, affecting cells, quickly suppresses the production of melanin.
- Ultrasonic facial cleansing. The procedure evens out the complexion when pigmentation is concentrated around muscle folds.
If a person does not yet want to mechanically act on the skin-muscular folds, then methods on how to remove stains by correcting the diet will help him.
Doctors recommend first enriching your diet with foods containing vitamins A, B, E, and folic acid. It is also useful for a person with an aesthetic problem to take vitamin complexes for the skin (before contacting a specialist), since some people sometimes manage to get rid of the defect at home.
Additional recipes for spots
- lubricate with whitening products (lemon essential oil, parsley);
- add fresh potatoes;
- apply gruel from pomegranate seeds;
- apply sour cream, cottage cheese and honey (to nourish the skin);
- lubricate with a mixture of cherry pits and olive oil (leave for a week);
- moisturize with a mixture of sandalwood and almond oils;
- apply white clay masks;
- temporarily stop using cosmetics;
- Apply sunscreen before walking outside.
To enhance the therapeutic effect, it is important to stop smoking and frequent consumption of tea and coffee. Some women use foundation every time to disguise a blemish.
Laser tattoo removal sometimes causes a condition where white pigmentation along the lip contour appears after the procedure. The appearance of light spots is a consequence of poor-quality service provided. A more gentle procedure is the use of a tattoo remover.
Laser procedure
Removing pigmentation using a laser beam is the most effective and safe method. But it must be carried out by a highly qualified specialist. The fact is that you need to set the parameters for laser processing individually. If the impact is too weak, the pigmentation will not disappear. If the cosmetologist chooses a method of exposure that is too intense, a burn may form on the skin, and a scar will then remain in its place.
The essence of the procedure is the impact of a laser beam on the cells that produce melanin. Thus, the process eliminates the very reason for the appearance of spots - improperly functioning melanocytes. At the same time, healthy tissues are not damaged, so the skin is restored quite quickly.
The procedure will take from 5 to 15 minutes, and a tingling sensation will be felt during laser exposure. After completion of the session, the skin at the treatment site will turn red, then slight peeling will appear. After about a week, the skin will be completely restored, and the spots will become noticeably lighter. To completely get rid of pigmentation, 2-5 procedures are needed.
Tips for girls who decide to undergo laser whitening:
- It is recommended to carry out bleaching in late autumn and winter;
- at least a month before the appointed time you cannot sunbathe, including in a solarium;
- After the procedure, be sure to use sunscreen, even if the weather is cloudy;
- in order for the skin to heal faster, it is recommended to apply a thin layer of Bepanten or Panthenol to the treated area after the procedure;
- Until the skin is completely restored, it is strictly forbidden to use exfoliating agents - scrubs, peels, etc.
Chemical peels
Depending on the depth of the pigment, superficial or medium peeling can be used to remove pigmentation.
Glycolic peeling is superficial; this procedure is practically painless and safe. To perform the procedure, formulations based on glycolic acid are used; in addition, lactic and fruit acids can be included in the mixture. Under the influence of acids, the top layer of cells containing melanin is exfoliated. In addition, glycolic acid has a depressing effect on melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment.
Removes pigmentation and retinoic peeling . The drug contains retinoic, kojic, phytic and azelaic acids. This procedure helps stabilize melanin production.
If the pigment is deeply embedded, medium peeling . This is a less harmless procedure, so it should be carried out by an experienced specialist. Most often, formulations based on triloacetic acid are used.
Ways to eliminate dark spots in cosmetology
Today, beauty salons offer a variety of procedures to lighten pigmentation. They are carried out only by qualified specialists in beauty salons, observing all sterility standards. The following methods are recognized as the most effective.
Laser removal
The laser affects only the affected areas without damaging nearby cells. 1 session is enough to remove the defect. This method can also remove pigmentation on the lips.
Mesotherapy
A drug is injected under the skin using injections to whiten the epidermis from the inside. It usually contains hyaluronic acid and several other safe components. To achieve the desired effect, you will need 2-3 procedures.
Chemical peeling
Pigmentation around the lips is susceptible to acidic solutions. During the session, the cosmetologist removes not only pigment formations, but also the keratinized layer of dermal cells. It is necessary to carry out 2-3 procedures to make the dermis lighter.
Whitening creams
You can purchase ready-made whitening cream at the pharmacy. Choose cosmetics that contain:
- vitamins;
- arbutin;
- azelaic acid;
- kojic acid.
All these components help stop the production of melanin and lighten the skin. To remove pigment spots above the lip, you should not use creams with hydroquinone, as this substance is unsafe, and it is not recommended to apply it to the thin skin around the mouth.
Whitening creams should be used regularly, exclusively in the evening. The course of application is no more than 20 days.
If you wish, you can make a homemade whitening cream from natural products. A composition based on honey is very effective.
Lightly heat a tablespoon of castor oil, adding to it the same amount of honey and a teaspoon of Vaseline. Stir until smooth and add five drops of iodine tincture to the warm mass. Stir again. Store in the refrigerator and apply to dark spots every evening until results are achieved.
Homemade lotions
1. The solution is prepared from three parts of fresh milk and one part of pure alcohol. This mixture should be rubbed into the skin of the face at night. 2. Mix hydrogen peroxide with two drops of ammonia. Rub this solution into the skin of the body if the disease is not of internal origin. It would also be a good idea to rub warm Provençal oil into your skin before going to bed. 3. 100g. fresh parsley roots must be chopped, then place them in an enamel bowl, pour 500 ml of boiling water over your broth and cover with a lid, then boil your solution for 15 minutes and cool it at room temperature for a quarter of an hour. Pour the medicinal solution into a glass container and add a few drops of lemon juice, shake it and place it in a dark place. Lubricate your face with the solution every day; the procedure must be repeated morning and evening.
Homemade masks
You can whiten your skin with masks that are easy to prepare at home. It is recommended to make such masks every other day.
- Parsley . Parsley juice is an excellent whitening agent. It is necessary to chop the greens very finely (it is better to use a blender) and mix the resulting puree with an equal volume of sour cream. Apply to pigmented skin for half an hour. You can prepare a decoction from parsley leaves, freeze it in molds and wipe your face with an ice cube every day, paying special attention to the places where age spots are located.
- Dairy products . To prepare whitening masks, you can use yogurt, kefir, natural yogurt, sour cream or cottage cheese. All these products contain lactic acid, which effectively neutralizes melanin. Apply the product (or a mixture of products, for example, cottage cheese mixed with kefir or sour cream) to pigmented skin for half an hour. To increase efficiency, you can mix fermented milk products with cucumber or parsley juice.
- Citrus juice . Lemon juice whitens well, but if the skin reacts poorly to contact with it (flakes, turns red), then it is better to replace the lemon with lime or grapefruit. Citrus juice should not be applied in its pure form to the area above the lip. It is better to prepare a mask based on it. Take a packet (11 grams) of dry yeast, mix the product with vegetable oil and citrus fruit juice. We take 5 ml of both products. Apply the resulting mass to the areas of pigmentation for twenty minutes.
The second reason for pigmentation is skin damage and disease.
Cuts, pimples, and other skin damage lead to excess melanin production.
Why? Any damage to the skin causes inflammatory reactions, which in turn, as written above, lead to the activation of melanocytes in our skin. And then the situation from the first point is repeated. The second reason for skin pigmentation during damage is that damaged skin may not be able to regenerate the skin pigments that were in it before the damage. Any type of skin condition, such as eczema, can also cause hyperpigmentation.
Preventive measures
As you know, prevention is always easier and cheaper than subsequent treatment. To avoid the appearance of pigmentation above the upper lip, it is recommended:
- undergo regular preventive medical examinations;
- if problems with hormonal levels are identified, it is necessary to be treated, following all the doctor’s instructions;
- Carefully protect your skin from the sun; for this it is recommended to constantly use sunscreen. Sun protection is needed not only on vacation, but also in the city.
What pigmentation around the lips may indicate
If the lip changes appearance and darkens regardless of periods of solar activity and this happens at any time of the year, you need to consult a doctor to identify the reasons. Tests and a thorough examination will help find the true cause of dark spots on the face. The diagnostic complex includes the following examinations:
- analysis of testosterone production levels;
- assessment of female hormones to identify irregularities in the menstrual cycle;
- clarification of pregnancy;
- liver tests to exclude or identify functional disorders in the functioning of the organ;
- Ultrasound of the liver and thyroid gland;
- Analysis of urine;
- assessment of cortisol levels;
- study of thyroid hormones.
Research is carried out instrumentally and with the study of hormonal levels. If the cause of a cosmetic defect lies in the insufficiency of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or gall bladder, appropriate treatment is prescribed. As a result of therapy, the brown pigment may disappear on its own and forever.
