Lip discoloration: Meaning and treatment

Black lips, dark lips, ... are expressions of lips that change color due to many causes. So what is the meaning and treatment when the lips are discolored?

Lip discoloration is a condition in which the tip of the lips turns different colors, which can be blue, pale pink or brown. Usually the tip of the lips is light pink to brown, that's because the structure of the lips is only 3-5 layers of cells, different from the rest of the skin on the body, which is composed of many layers of cells.
The color of the lips is the display of the blood vessels underneath. In addition, lip color also depends on skin color, if the skin is light, the lips are pale and blood vessels can be seen.
Lip discoloration may not be harmful if it is due to food coloring from food or drink, but it can also be a sign of a medical condition, for example, a blue lip means pulse The blood does not have enough oxygen and then the patient needs emergency care.

Lips can change to different colors and for a variety of reasons, depending on the color of the transition.

The lips change blue or purple blue due to the lack of oxygen in the blood vessels, then, in addition to the lips, there are also signs of blue discoloration in the extremities. Oxygenated blood will be ruddy, bright red, and hypoxic blood will be dark red, blue-violet. Lack of oxygen in the blood that causes the lips to turn blue can be caused by a number of medical conditions affecting the lungs, heart and circulation in the body, including:
Some lung-related diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, emphysema emphysema Heart failure, shock Pulmonary thrombosis Accident, trauma causing suffocation Sepsis causes blood poisoning Extremely low ambient temperature

White, pale lips are caused by anemia, low red blood cell count in the blood. In addition to the lips, other places on the face and body are also pale, such as the lining of the eyes, mouth (inside), fingernails.
Anemia causing white lips can be caused by the following reasons:
Diet lacking iron, vitamin B12, folate Women in the menstrual period often have anemia Gastrointestinal bleeding Candida infection in the mouth (usually occurs on the tongue, inner cheeks but can also be on the roof of the mouth, gums, inner lips) Other causes: Hypoglycemia, poor circulation, vitamin deficiency in the body, side effects of drugs, frostbite, chronic illness.

Dark purple lips or increased lip pigmentation can be caused by the following reasons:
Smoking habits: Smoking is one of the common causes of dark lips. Accident, trauma: Punctured lips due to accident or trauma can cause purple or black lips, one or all of the lips, part or all of the lips. In addition, when the lips are damaged such as dry, cracked, burned, they also bruise the lips. Addison's disease: Purple lips on the inside or outside can occur with Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol for the body, causing increased pigmentation of the skin and lips.

Lip discoloration with spotting may not be dangerous if it is a sunspot, however, it can also be a sign of some conditions such as:
Hemochromatosis : When the body stores too much iron due to a disease Hemochromatosis can cause gray or dark brown patches of hyperpigmentation, including on the lips. Laugier-Hunziker syndrome: Laugier-Hunziker syndrome causes dark brown patches on the lips, mainly the lower lip, and also in the oral cavity. In addition to the discolored lips with spots, the patient also has black lines on the fingernails. This is a benign skin condition. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: This is an inherited disorder that causes small black spots to develop on the lips, mouth, and around the nose, eyes, hands, and feet. Carney complex disorder (also called LAMB syndrome): This is a rare disorder that increases the risk of many different types of tumors but is not cancerous and causes hyperpigmentation of the skin on the lips and area. around the eyes, causing the lips to change color. Cancer : Black spot on lip can also be a malignant tumor with characteristics of color, abnormal tumor shape, rapid growth in size. With shiny black spots that look like scars, bleeding, or black sores that don't heal, it's important to see your doctor soon for an evaluation. In addition to the medical conditions mentioned above, discolored lips with dark spots can be due to overexposure to the sun or as a side effect of certain neurological medications such as antipsychotics or cancer treatments. cause.

After determining the underlying cause of the lip discoloration, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. If the lip discoloration is due to medication, the patient needs to talk to the doctor to be switched to another drug.
Treatments for lip discoloration include:
Topical surgery Surgery Cryotherapy Photodynamic therapy, laser, intense pulsed light In addition, lip discoloration can be prevented by pay attention to skin care measures and have an adequate diet, specifically:
Do not smoke, if you are smoking, you should practice giving up this harmful habit gradually. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and a scarf to cover your face when out in the sun. Use a lip balm with sunscreen when going out in the sun. Limit time in the sun, especially from 10 to 14 hours. There are many causes for lips to change color blue, white, purple, black, ... With each color change, it can be a sign of a medical condition that needs to be examined, diagnosed and determined treatment methods. Fit.
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Reference source: healthline.com