How to Tackle Hyperpigmentation Around the Mouth?
Tackling hyperpigmentation can feel very daunting, but in recent years it has become somewhat easier to treat. There are a number of products available all containing skin ingredients that can help target the dark patches on the skin and make them appear less visible. There are different levels of pigmentation that can occur on the skin, from scarring left over from acne, damage from over exposure to any UV rays and also some find a change in lifestyle can produce an uneven skin tone. It is considered that although it is a harmless skin concern it can be very bothersome, especially when it is focused around the mouth area, which is why today we have investigated how we can tackle hyperpigmentation around the mouth.
If you are wanting to know about combating dark spots on the skin, you can check out our dedicated blog post about what skincare tips can help you manage dark spots.
How can I lighten the skin around my mouth?
We all get the pigment of our skin from melanin which is naturally occurring in the skin. Quite often, some damage has been caused by overexposure to the sun, medication, hormonal changes (such as pregnancy) and any other underlying conditions that can cause this imbalance in the skin.
Here are some skincare steps you can take to help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and prevent it from reoccurring:
Use skincare products enriched in ingredients that are high in antioxidants that can help combat the damage caused by free radicals, such as UV exposure, pollution and other environmental aggressors.
Introduce a chemical exfoliant into your daily routine, glycolic acid and lactic acid have the ability to slough away dead skin cells that can build-up on the outer surface of the skin. Over time you will find any dark pigmentation is significantly lightened.
Ensure you fully cleanse the skin during your evening skincare routine to prevent any remaining traces of product to cause breakouts and other skin damage.
Depending on your skin type, 2-3 times a week you can use a physical scrub and exfoliant the skin.
There you have some of the top skin tips in helping to lighten the skin around the mouth and reducing pigmentation.
What causes dark spots around the mouth?
Here are some of the main factors that can cause pigmentation around the mouth and how long you can expect them to last on the skin:
Trauma to the skin
By this I mean any type of injury that is inflicted on the skin, such as acne, spots, infection or burns. It is once these concerns have healed that a dark brown colour will appear around the mouth, this is often called, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so chances are if the area has suffered from any inflammation it will result in a dark spot. There is no need to panic however, as these dark patches tend to fade in about 6 months. If, however, you are wanting to rid the skin more rapidly, then using serums enriched in antioxidant ingredients, such as vitamin C will help reduce their appearance quickly.
Melasma
Melasma regularly occurs during pregnancy and is often called “the mask of pregnancy” and appears in brown, greyish patches across the forehead, cheeks and upper lip. Caused by a change in hormones, melasma affects pregnant women, as well as some who are taking a certain type of oral contraceptive pills. These dark patches on the skin do not last forever, and you can expect them to reduce and eventually fade all together after a few months once the baby is born or when you have stopped taking birth control pills.
Sun exposed
Over exposure to the sun’s UV rays will cause an increase in your chances of developing dark spots. These spots, which can also be called age spots, sunspots and liver spots, often occur as the skin ages and is unable to conceal the damage caused by UV exposure from sun light or excessive use on tanning beds. Bear in mind however, that if the damage is quite severe you will see the signs of pigmentation before your skin has aged more.
The most effective way of preventing these dark spots is to apply a daily SPF of 30 and above, even when the weather seems gloomy, UVA rays are always present and applying SPF will create a protective barrier on the skin. Make sure you don’t forget to apply the sun factor to your upper lips and around the mouth (ensuring you don’t ingest any) as this area is frequently forgotten about and suffers from pigmentation the most.
Vitamin and medical reasons
Having vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin B12 and vitamin D will promote any melasma in the skin to develop, taking daily supplements will help keep the skin even and glowing. If you are having to take certain types of medication you may find uneven skin tone becomes a problem, though the results may be short term and will hopefully reduce a few months down the line.
There you have some of the reasons you are suffering from hyperpigmentation on the skin. I am now going to share in more detail the best treatments and ingredients to use when tackling dark patches around the mouth and other areas of the skin.
What is the best treatment for hyperpigmentation on face?
We have previously shared some skincare tips with you to help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation that can be used every day/week. The following tips are those performed by trained professionals and potent ingredients that require you to introduce them into your routine gradually such as:
Retinols, either over the counter, medical grade or prescription strength
Laser therapy for focused treatment on dark spots and acne scarring
Chemical peels to help reduce the appearance of pigmentation with intensive exfoliation
Taking your time to find the best treatments and routine for combating pigmentation will result in the skin feeling comfortable and looking healthy.
Will hyperpigmentation go away?
There are different types of hyperpigmentation, as mentioned, melasma will disappear in due course and other dark spots can be treated with a bespoke cocktail of treatments. Sun damage is known for being the trickiest to rid yourself of and though these particular dark spots can become less visible they will never fully go away completely. This means you must remember to protect the face during the summer months to prevent the pigmentation to darken again.
How long does it take hyperpigmentation to fade?
It can take within 6-12 months for hyperpigmentation and dark spots to fade from the face and mouth. As I have already mentioned there are some potent skincare ingredients to include into your routine to combat the concerns. If you find your hyperpigmentation is deep rooted into the lower layers of the skin, it may take years for the discolouration to improve.
I hope we have answered your questions about hyperpigmentation today, don’t forget you can always ask us about anything skincare related over on our Instagram
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
