Why Are Your Lips Still Dark Even After Using Lip Balm? 5 Possible Reasons

Why Are Your Lips Still Dark Even After Using Lip Balm 5 Possible Reasons

You apply lip balm every day hoping to lighten them, but your lips stay the same shade. We know that’s frustrating, and it usually has little to do with how often you apply it. Most causes of dark lips sit outside the balm: sun, daily habits and sometimes nutrition. Here are 5 possible reasons your lips are still dark and what to do about each one.

What Causes Dark Lips?

Your lip skin is thin and has only 3 to 5 cell layers, far fewer than facial skin, which has about 16. With so little cover, irritation and sun exposure affect lips faster than the rest of the face. Lips also have no oil glands, so they cannot produce their own moisture, which is why a lip balm is needed to keep them hydrated.  When pigment-producing cells are stressed by these factors, they produce extra melanin, which shows up as dark patches. Davis and Callender (2010), in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, call this postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and they note it affects people with skin of color more often and more severely. This is the usual story behind lip pigmentation.

5 Possible Reasons Your Lips Are Still Dark

1. Sun exposure without protection. Most of us put sunscreen on the face but we can’t use the same on lips as……. UV pushes melanin production up. A balm without SPF offers no protection, so lips can keep darkening while still feeling perfectly moisturized.

2. Licking, biting and peeling. Licking dry lips, biting them, or picking at flakes keeps the skin irritated, and repeated inflammation leaves pigmentation behind. Saliva evaporates quickly and dries lips out further, so the habit feeds itself.

3. Smoking. Tobacco smoke and the heat from a cigarette are known to darken lips over time. The longer and heavier the habit, the more visible it gets.

4. Nutritional deficiency. Vitamin B12 is the leading cause of dark lips. Brescoll and Daveluy (2015), in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, report that hyperpigmentation is the most common skin change seen with B12 deficiency. 

5. Your lip balm itself. Fragrance or flavoring in some balms can irritate sensitive lips, and ongoing irritation darkens them. Other balms are plain moisturizers with nothing to target pigment, so your lips feel better while the color stays put.

Also Read: Can Lip Balm Really Help With Dark Lips? What You Should Know

What Deficiency Causes Dark Lips?

Vitamin B12 deficiency is the most commonly linked cause of darker skin and lips. Dark lips have many possible causes, so keeping habits like biting and licking in check can help prevent further darkening. If the darkening is sudden, spreading or comes with other symptoms, get your B12 levels tested.

Are Naturally Dark Lips Normal?

Yes, lip color varies with genetics and melanin, and people with more melanin often have deeper lip tones from birth. Naturally pigmented lips need no treatment. Patchy dark spots, sudden darkening or a color change that keeps spreading deserve a visit to a dermatologist.

How to Get Rid of Dark Lips

Start with SPF. Using a lip product with SPF 15 or higher every morning and reapplying it when you’re outdoors for long will help you moisturize and protect your lips.

Leaving your lips alone. Leaving flakes on their own and not biting and picking them can help you in the long run. If you exfoliate, keep it gentle and limit it to once or twice a week, because over-exfoliating irritates the skin and can darken lips further.

Pick a lip balm for dark lips that targets pigment. Davis and Callender (2010) list certain licorice extracts among the ingredients that help lighten hyperpigmentation. 

Check the fragrance. If a balm stings or tingles, switch to a gentler one.

CITTA Beetroot Lip Balm (Tinted)

CITTA Beetroot Lip Balm (Tinted)

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Cut back on smoking if you smoke.

Give it a month or so. Pigmentation fades slowly, so judge results after 4 to 6 weeks of consistent use.

The Takeaway

Sun, licking and peeling, smoking and low B12 are the usual reasons dark lips stay dark, and a plain lip balm can’t fix any of them on its own. Add daily SPF, drop the irritating habits and switch to a balm with pigment-targeting ingredients. Do it sooner rather than later if your lips have darkened over the past few months.

Also Read: Why Does Your Skin Look Dull Even After a Good Skincare Routine? 7 Possible Reasons

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dark lips turn pink again?

Yes, if the darkness is because of sun exposure, irritation, or habits like licking and peeling. So stopping those habits, protecting the lips with SPF lip balm, and giving it 4 to 6 weeks can show results. Naturally dark lips are genetic and will not turn pink, though they can become a little lighter and more even.

Do lip balms make lips dark?

A balm with fragrance or flavoring that irritates your lips and keeps the skin inflamed can make lips darker. If your balm makes your lips sting or tingle, stop using it. A balm without SPF also does nothing to stop the sun from darkening your lips.

How can I remove darkness of my lips?

Practices like wearing SPF 15 or higher on your lips daily and stopping licking, biting, and peeling can help remove the darkness. These can help lighten the darkness over time.

How can I brighten my lips?

Keep your lips hydrated, protected from the sun, and gently exfoliated. Dry, flaky skin makes lips appear dull and uneven, so a daily balm and plenty of water do most of the work. Exfoliate no more than once or twice a week, since scrubbing too often irritates the skin and can darken lips further.

Also Read: How Do You Know If Your Skin Barrier Is Healing? 8 Signs to Look For

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