No amount of makeup can hide stubborn dark spots, discoloration, and pigmentation on your face. Which is why it is crucial to treat its cause rather than cover them.

One of the most common types of facial pigmentation appears around your mouth. 

Discoloration and blackness around the mouth can happen due to excess production of melanin pigment in the affected area, resulting in dark patches around the mouth. 

Though it is not a skin disorder, with the right ingredients and routine, it can fade over time. 

Let’s understand the causes, treatment, and tips to reduce blackness around the mouth. 

What are the causes of pigmentation around the mouth?

People with dark skin tones have more melanin than those with fair skin tones. While melanin lowers the risk of developing skin cancer, uneven melanin production can lead to skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation, where certain areas of your skin become darker, or hypopigmentation, where areas become lighter. 

1. Sun exposure: 

Melanin present in your skin, shields the endodermis against harmful UV rays. In response to harsh sun rays, the skin naturally produces melanin to protect itself. However excess production of melanin leads to dark skin.  Thus, prolonged exposure to the sun is one of the main reasons for hyperpigmentation, causing dark patches around the mouth. 

2. Skin Dryness:

Skimping on water intake or skipping on your moisturizer causes flaky and dry skin that eventually leads to pigmentation around the mouth. Also in the colder months of the year, the dry weather can dry out your skin too, leading to pigmentation. 

3. Hormonal fluctuations: 

Hyperpigmentation can also be  caused by hormonal changes in the body. Therefore, you can observe higher discoloration around your mouth and lips during menstruation, pregnancy, or other hormonal issues. 

4. Skin conditions: 

Hyperpigmentation can be a symptom of underlying issues. If you have existing skin issues like eczema or rosacea, the areas around your mouth are prone to unbalanced melanin secretion. 

5. Vitamin deficiency: 

Low levels of vitamins like B12 and D can make your skin prone to hyperpigmentation, around the mouth, being one of the areas. 

6. Skin trauma: 

Acne, infections, and burns usually leave behind dark patches. This form of discoloration is a form of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

7. Genetics

Your genes can also cause pigmentation around your mouth, eyes, and sides of the forehead i.e. those areas are darker than the rest of the face. It typically occurs as a pigmentary demarcation line, a darker patch that ends sharply, like a line.

If you see similar hyperpigmentation in other relatives, it is probably your genes. 

Getting rid of hyperpigmentation caused by genetic conditions can be challenging. In such cases, it’s best to consult a dermatologist.  

Home remedies to get rid of pigmentation around the mouth?

Simple home remedies can help reduce the early stages of pigmentation around the mouth. So, if you have been searching for how to reduce pigmentation around the mouth, here are some tips and tricks:

1. Lemon juice with honey and cucumber juice

While raw lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent known for its skin-brightening effects, it can be harsh on your delicate facial skin. To avoid any irritation or dryness, mix a few drops of lemon juice with a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of cucumber juice instead.  Apply it on affected areas and leave it until dry or overnight. 

2. Potato juice: 

You can also opt for potato juice or simply rub half a potato on the affected areas in a circular motion for about 10-15 minutes. As a natural bleaching agent, best suited for sensitive skin, consistent use gives you faded spots over time. 

3. Papaya:

Packed with the benefits of vitamins A and C, a papaya mask is also an effective treatment for all skin types. Make a thick paste out of a couple of slices of raw papaya and mix it with some rose water. Apply this mask 2-3 times a week on the affected areas or all over your face and leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes or until dry for nourished, even-toned skin. 

While home remedies can help at an earlier stage of hyperpigmentation, it usually is messy and very time-consuming and may not be as effective in getting rid of those stubborn spots. 

How to get rid of pigmentation around the mouth?

These ingredients and science backed solutions are effective in removing blackness around the mouth. 

1. Vitamin C: 

Famous for its glow-boosting properties, consistent use of vitamin C can give you glowing, even-toned skin. Antioxidant-rich Vitamin C scavenges on free radicals, helping prevent photoaging. You could incorporate vitamin C in your moisturizer, toner, and sunscreen. 

If you are looking for a concentrated dose, serum is your best bet. Plum’s Vitamin C Serum is suited for all skin types. It fights hyperpigmentation and boosts the glow on your face. 

2. Kojic Acid:

Features skin-lightening properties, Kojic acid is derived from a type of fungus. Consistent use of this active regulated concentration can give you visibly brighter skin over time. Opt for a concentrated formula like a serum for aggravated symptoms of hyperpigmentation while you can stick to a buffered formula like a moisturizer or toner, for the overall benefits of the active. However, it is suggested to use kojic acid for skin only after medical consultancy. 

3. Glycolic acid: 

As an exfoliating agent, glycolic acid promotes cell regeneration helping fade off spots & pigmentation. For post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and sun damage, a glycolic acid serum can help fade out acne marks and dark spots. This active ingredient also helps in oil control which is further beneficial for acne-prone skin. 

Plum’s Toner for oily skin and Green Tea Night Gel are great additions to the skincare routine of oily acne-prone skin. Glycolic acid with green tea extract gives you a radiant face by actively reducing acne spots, hyperpigmentation, and sun damage while preventing frequent breakouts on your skin by controlling excess oil production. 

4. Retinol: 

Retinol is a Vitamin A derivative that promotes cell turnover by exfoliating the skin. It also stimulates collagen production. This cell regeneration & boosted collagen production help in fading off dark spots. Since retinol exfoliates the uppermost skin to reveal newer skin, its usage should be restricted to night skin care routine. Don’t miss applying sunscreen the following day. 

Plum’s 1% Retinol Face Serum with Bakuchiol is proven to fight hyperpigmentation while reducing signs of aging and promoting moisture retention in your skin. Use it in your nighttime routine to allow it to work overnight in sync with your skin’s natural repair process, while you sleep. 

The best way to fight any skin issue is to take some active steps to prevent it, in the first place. Thankfully, when it comes to hyperpigmentation, the precautions are quite simple and doable. 

Here is a list of things you should abide by to prevent pigmentation around the mouth:

1. Broad-spectrum sunscreen: 

Since one of the main causes of hyperpigmentation is excess sun exposure, using a potent sunscreen like Plum’s Niacinamide Sunscreen can significantly help. Finish your morning skincare with this lightweight, non-greasy sunscreen with 50 SPF PA +++ that leaves no white cast and helps brighten your skin.

2. Exfoliation:

Weekly exfoliation can help prevent hyperpigmentation by preventing the accumulation of impurities on your face. Opt for a gentle scrubber and massage it on your face, once a week, to clean your face and unlock the glow from within. 

If you have dry to combination skin, use Plum’s Chamomile & White Tea Brighten-Up Face Scrub to gently exfoliate your face. It helps remove tan and dead skin cells, giving you hydrated and visibly brighter skin. 

For those with oily acne-prone skin, Plum’s Green Tea Face Scrub is a good option to consider. Formulated with Green Tea, an antioxidant-rich ingredient that helps fight acne-causing bacteria, and Glycolic Acid, this scrub helps unclog pores by exfoliating the dead skin cells while being gentle on your skin. It also has cellulose beads & walnut shell granules to promote cell renewal. Use it, twice a week, like you would use a gentle cleanser. Massage it on your skin, lather, and wash it off. 

3. Lifestyle change: 

An imbalanced lifestyle only adds to the chaos of skin issues. Always try to eat a balanced diet and sleep enough to not interfere with the skin’s natural repair process at night. 

It is quite easy to control hyperpigmentation around the mouth or anywhere on your skin with dedicated skincare done consistently.  Even if your life’s too fast to manage, your skin will no longer be unmanageable!