You spend a lot of time finding the right skincare products for your face and body. How about your lips? Many fail to take good care of their lips. As a result, they are now darker. What is the cause of lip pigmentation? Is it the result of using prickly pear lip balm?
Can Prickly Pear Lip Balm Cause Lip Pigmentation?
Lip pigmentation can be caused by a lot of things. The most common one is too much sun exposure without proper protection. Another reason is the lack of moisture. In that case, if you do not keep your lips hydrated, they get darker with time. Lip balm may also cause lip pigmentation but only if you are allergic to its ingredients. For that reason, you should test your newly bought lip balm first before applying it to your lips.
What are the Ways to Treat Lip Pigmentation?
Now that you know that some lip balm can cause lip pigmentation, you should only use a lip product that works well with your lips. On the other hand, if you already suffer from lip pigmentation, you may need to follow these steps:
- Scrub your lips. Dead cell accumulation can cause lip darkening. Thus, it is vital to exfoliate your lips to eliminate the dry flakes. It also helps in attaining the softness and color hidden underneath the lips. But you should not go overboard when it comes to exfoliation. Do it once or twice a week.
- Use a lip balm with sun protection. The UV rays are not just harmful to the skin but also to the lips. Thus, consider using a lip balm with sunscreen. It will protect your lips against the damaging effects of UV rays. Try to find a lip balm with at least SPF 15.
- Avoid picking your lips. If you love to chew your lips, you are doing harm to your lips. In fact, licking your lips is one of the causes of hyperpigmentation. If you have dry lips and you put a layer of saliva on your skin, expect inflammation to arise. Your lips will be drier and flakier, leading to lip darkening.
- Don’t use cheap products. Many cheap lip products contain harmful chemicals that can only cause damage to the lips. Instead, opt for high-quality lip balm or lipstick to ensure proper protection to your lips and avoid them getting darker.
Although these tips are effective in treating lip pigmentation, you need to eliminate some of your nasty habits that can lead to darker lips.
Stop Smoking
Smoking will not only harm your lungs but also causes your lips to get darker. In that case, even if you follow the tips mentioned above, your lips will still be dark if you continue smoking. Quit this habit first and you will find that your lips' color will go back to red or pink.