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Discoloration of the lips is a condition where the lips change from their normal red-pink color to that of a darker shade such as blue or black. This condition can often prove to be very annoying and embarrassing. There are many home remedies you can try to treat discoloration of the lips.

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Discoloration of the lips can be caused by chemotherapy, smoking, chewing tobacco, excessive fluoride use or even using cheap cosmetics. This condition has also been known to be hereditary and affects both men and women.

Home Remedies

Naturally, the best remedy is to stop smoking or chewing tobacco. Quitting either of these habits will prevent further lip discoloration as well as treat already discolored lips.

The most effective cure to treat discoloration of the lips is to drink at least 10 glasses of water a day. This helps to flush harmful toxins from the body. Apply lime juice to your lips every night before bed, as this acts as a bleaching agent. Many people acquire discolored lips due to the sun’s harmful rays. Applying sunscreen to your lips before going outside will help prevent this condition.

Clarified butter works to moisturize the lips as well as clear up dark pigments on the lips. Or, add a little sugar on top of a slice of lemon to rub gently over your lips for five minutes twice a day. This works to greatly improve the color of your lips. Or soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar. Dab it on your lips everyday to help bring out your natural lip color.

Try mixing the pulp of a ripe banana with some yogurt and honey. Apply this paste mixture to your lips to help with the discoloration. Or you can rub Vaseline daily on your lips to preserve the natural lip color. Another remedy used to treat lip discoloration is simple white toothpaste. Apply the toothpaste to your lips and rinse off only when it has dried. Try this method for a week to notice results.

Lastly, you might try a mixture of honey and lemon juice. Rub this mixture on your lips before bedtime every night. Lemon juice has bleaching properties as well.

If your symptoms don’t improve or even become worse, visit your doctor for immediate medical attention. This may be a sign of a more serious problem.