10 Best Home Remedies To Cure Black Spots On The Lips

You can cure black spots on the lips with natural remedies if you can apply them correctly. These spots or dark patches can be unsightly and compel you to wear lipstick or lip colors even when you would rather not. But makeup can only be a temporary solution and can sometimes be even responsible for discoloration of the lips. A better way to deal with these is to use natural and safe ingredients like lemon, honey, cucumber, and pomegranate, to name a few.
In this article, we get into the best remedies to cure black spots and what causes them in the first place. So, dive in.

Causes For Dark Spots On The Lips

Before we delve into the treatment options for black spots on the lips, we need to know why we get them. Here are the causes that lead to the formation of those spots on the lips:

• Vitamin B Deficiency – Every time you notice changes in the texture or appearance of your lips, hair, or nails, the primary cause is the deficiency of vital vitamins and minerals. In this case, black spots on the lips might be a result of vitamin B deficiency. Consult a doctor and seek treatment if you suffer from any vitamin deficiency to prevent other complications.

• Usage Of Old Lip Products – Using old lipsticks or lip balms that are past their expiry date is yet another reason for black spots. Always make sure you double check the expiry date of your favorite lip product to prevent black spots.

• Excessive Drinking And Smoking – The harmful chemicals from smoking can easily damage your lips. Alcohol can disrupt the normal functioning of the body and lead to dark spots on the lips.

• Excess Iron In The Body – This medical condition also leads to black spots that make the lips look unhealthy. A simple blood test can tell you if you have too much iron. You can then consult your doctor for treatment.

• Dryness Of The Lips – Chapping essentially means dry skin, which might serve as a breeding ground for infection when left untreated. These infections can also lead to spots.
• Hormonal Imbalance – Our body needs all the hormones to function properly for it to work efficiently. Sometimes, these spots might be an indication of hormonal imbalances in the body and may need treatment.

Did You Know?

Certain medications – like antipsychoticsⁱ  XDrugs used to treat symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations and dementia by blocking certain chemicals in the nervous system. , anticonvulsantsⁱ  XMedications used to manage or prevent seizures as well as to relieve neuropathic pain and stabilize moods for bipolar disorders. , and antimalarials – may lead to skin hyperpigmentation. They may also cause black spots on the lips.

How To Get Rid Of Black Spots On Lips

1. Apple Cider Vinegar
2. Almond Oil
3. Lemon And Honey
4. Beetroot
5. Rose Petals And Glycerin
6. Pomegranate
7. Sugar Scrub
8. Turmeric And Nutmeg Paste
9. Cucumber Juice
10. Strawberries

Home Remedies To Treat Black Spots On The Lips

1. Apple Cider Vinegar To Remove Dark Spots On Lips

You Will Need

• Apple cider vinegar
• Cotton swab

What You Have To Do

1. Dip the cotton swab in the vinegar and apply it to the affected area.
2. Leave it on for a couple of minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

ACV can be applied twice or even thrice a day.

Why This Works

The application of apple cider vinegar can help reduce the appearance of the black spots as ACV has skin lightening and infection-treating properties. The acids present in this vinegar exfoliate the darkened skin to reveal luscious pink lips (1).

2. Almond Oil For Dark Spots On Lips

You Will Need

1-2 drops almond oil

What You Have To Do

1. Using clean fingertips, massage the oil on the lips.
2. Leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply almond oil every night.

Why This Works

The nourishing fats present in almond oil will hydrate the lips and get rid of the dryness that can cause spots. Almond oil also has mild bleaching properties that can lighten the spots (2).

3. Lemon And Honey For Dark Spots On Lips

You Will Need

• 1-2 drops lemon juice
• 1-2 drops honey

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the two and apply the mixture on the spots on your lips.
2. Let it dry for about 10 minutes and then rinse it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a day.

Why This Works

The bleaching properties of lemon juice prove to be beneficial to lighten the dark spots (3). Lemon is also an antiseptic agent and can heal the spot even if it is caused due to an infection (4). Honey helps to moisturize the lips and eliminates the dry and flaky skin (5).

4. Beetroot For Black Spots On Lips

You Will Need

A beetroot slice

What You Have To Do

1. Keep the beetroot slice in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes.
2. Then, gently rub the cool slice on the lips for 2-3 minutes.
3. Leave the beetroot juice on for another 5 minutes and then wash it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every day religiously for best results.

Why This Works

This vegetable is known to be extremely helpful in getting rid of spots on the lips. It hydrates the skin and removes the darkened dead skin cells. It also helps in the formation of new skin cells and reduces oxidative damageⁱ  XDamage caused to tissue that can in turn disrupt cell mutation and result in loss of function and stiffer membranes. (6).

5. Rose Petals And Glycerin For Black Spots On Lips

You Will Need

• 2-3 rose petals
• 1 teaspoon glycerin

What You Have To Do

1. Crush the rose petals and mix them with glycerin.
2. Apply this as a mask on your lips and keep it on for 10 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this once every day.

Why This Works

The application of glycerin reduces the black spots that are ruining the beauty of your lips. It extensively hydrates the skin and improves its elasticity, which is often lacking in chapped lips. Even if the black spots are caused due to some irritation, glycerin can help to alleviate the irritation and get rid of the black spots (7). Adding rose petals to glycerin enhances its effects as the vitamin E present in these petals has hydrating and antioxidant properties (8, 9).

6. Pomegranate For Black Spots On Lips

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon rose water OR milk cream

What You Have To Do

1. Mash the pomegranate seeds and add rose water to this.
2. Mix well and apply this paste on the lips.
3. Rub the paste on your lips gently for 2-3 minutes.
4. Wash it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every alternate day.

Why This Works

Pomegranate can add moisture to the lips and also help in the healing of the dark spots. It can do this by improving the regenerative process of the skin cells and encouraging circulation (10).

7. Sugar Scrub For Black Spots On Lips

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• A few drops of lemon juice

What You Have To Do

1. Add the lemon juice to the sugar granules and scrub your lips with this mixture.
2. Keep scrubbing for 3-4 minutes and then rinse it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this scrub twice or thrice a week.

Why This Works

Scrubbing with sugar exfoliates the dark and dead cells from the lips and makes them look fresh and pink. It also promotes new cell growth (11).

Quick Tip

You can also add sea salt and coconut oil to this scrub to make it more effective.

8. Turmeric And Nutmeg Paste For Black Spots On Lips

You Will Need

• A pinch of turmeric powder
• A pinch of nutmeg powder
• Water

What You Have To Do

1. Mix both the powders and add a few drops of water to get a smooth paste.
2. Apply this paste on the affected area and keep it on until it dries.
3. Wash it off and apply a lip balm.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once every day.

Why This Works

Both turmeric and nutmeg have antibacterial properties and can work well in conjunction when the spots on your lip are due to an infection. These spices also have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. All of these help in the quick recovery of the damaged skin on your lips (12, 13, 14).

9. Cucumber Juice For Black Spots On Lips

You Will Need

A cucumber slice

What You Have To Do

1. Mash the cucumber thoroughly and apply the thick juice on the lips.
2. Leave this on for 10-15 minutes.
3. Wash it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You can repeat this up to twice a day.

Why This Works

The mild bleaching and hydrating properties of cucumber lighten the black spots on your lip and also moisturize the dry skin present there (15).

10. Strawberries For Black Spots On Lips

You Will Need

1/2 strawberry

What You Have To Do

1. Crush the strawberry and apply it on the lips.
2. Keep this on for 10 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every day until the spot fades away.

Why This Works

The vitamin C content of the strawberry will exfoliate the skin, lighten the dark spot, rejuvenate the skin, and also eliminate the dryness (16). And not to mention, the lip-smacking taste and flavor of strawberries are a bonus.

Aside from the above-mentioned home remedies, you can also opt for the following treatment procedures to ease black spots on your lips.

Treatment Of Black Spots On The Lips

The treatment of black spots on the lips often requires professional intervention. One common approach is the use of topical treatments containing ingredients such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, or glycolic acid which can gradually lighten dark spots (17).

Dermatologists may also recommend chemical peels, which involve applying a chemical solution to exfoliate the top layer of the skin, which leads to improved pigmentation over time (17).

For more stubborn or severe cases, laser therapy is a powerful option. It can target and break down the melanin responsible for the dark spots, which results in clearer, more even-toned lips (17). Remember to consult with a dermatologist to determine the most suitable treatment for you.

Infographic: Top 5 Natural Remedies To Manage Black Spots On Lips

Factors like vitamin B deficiency, hormonal imbalance, and excessive smoking and drinking can contribute to the development of black spots on your lips. The good news is that simple ingredients from your kitchen can help improve the appearance of black spots on your lips.

Check out the infographic below for the top 5 natural remedies to help manage the black spots on your lips!

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

Tips to prevent black spots on the lips

A key tip regarding water consumption has already been mentioned above. Other than that, here are some more tips you can follow to prevent black spots on lips:
• Use a lip balm with SPF, especially before you step out in the sun. Reapply every two hours.
• Reduce your caffeine intake.
• Do not keep biting or licking your lips.
• Quit smoking.
• Reduce your iron intake, but consult your doctor before you stop any supplements that you are already taking.
• Dispose all old and expired skincare and lip care products.

How long does it take to get rid of dark spots on the lips?

Depending on the cause and intensity of the spots, it can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to more than a month for the spots to go away.

What type of cancer causes black spots on the lips?

Lip cancer is a rare type of skin cancer can cause black spots on the lips. These spots are usually accompanied by lumps. Extensive exposure to the sun is a major cause of this.

Can a dermatologist help with black spots on lips?

Yes, dermatologists can prescribe cosmetic procedures such as liquid nitrogen therapy or any medicated cream, ointment, salve, serum, or lotion to lighten dark spots on lips.

Is Vaseline good for black spots on lips?

Vaseline does not have skin-brightening properties. However, it works as an excellent emollient and can help heal dry and cracked skin on the lips and make it smoother, which may reduce the appearance of black spots.

Now that you know how to get rid of black spots on lips, what are you waiting for? These were some of the best and effective home remedies that show results when used regularly on the black spots on your lips. There is no need for you to live with those ugly looking spots anymore. Make your lips shine and just smile!

Let us know your favorite home remedy in the comments section below.

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Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations. She graduated as a top ranker from Dr. D.Y.Patil College of Ayurveda and Research Centre , Navi Mumbai, and is a specialist in Panchakarma therapies. She believes that Ayurveda...more

Kushneet KukrejaHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Kushneet holds a postgraduate degree in biotechnology from Kingston University, London, and is an ISSA Certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition with 2 years of experience. Her scientific background, coupled with her passion for writing, propelled her towards content writing. She writes articles on home remedies and ensures to present a balanced perspective to the reader. When she is not...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over two years of experience in writing on health and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach. She writes on skin care and aims to present well-researched...more