Bottom line: A cream containing hydroquinone or kojic acid (such as La Roche-Posay Mela-D Dark Spots, $45) along with a topical retinoid (like prescription Renova) and mild over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream can fade the discoloration after about six weeks of nightly use.
“Skin Darkening around the mouth is medically termed as perioral hyper melanosis. Multiple treatments are available to treat this skin condition such as Nd:YAG lasers, chemical peels, etc. Pigment removal agents like kojic acid and azelaic acids are equally beneficial.”
“A melasma mustache is caused by a complex interplay of sun exposure, family history, hormonal influences, thyroid disease and medications that lead to molecular signaling within the skin,” Dr. Akhtar explains.
Topical prescription skin lightening creams. These creams include active ingredients such as hydroquinone, which can decrease melanin production. Another option is a combination compounded skin lightening cream with hydroquinone, kojic acid and retinoids.
Sun mustache presents as a darkened or shadowy-looking upper lip, stemming from sun damage that deepens skin's pigmentation via excess melanin production (1). While sun protection is a key part of keeping this type of discoloration at bay, even those who apply sunscreen every day can end up with a sun 'stache.
Lemon juice. The idea behind lemon juice to treat melasma is similar to that of apple cider vinegar. Many sites recommend rubbing the dark patches of skin with lemon juice and leaving it to dry before rinsing with water. Lemon juice is thought to lighten the skin because it is a bleaching agent.
Regular exfoliation at home, twice a week is good and using an ultra-nourishing and Vitamin C enriched lip balm really helps. It's best to use a lip balm and scrub are enriched with ingredients that help fade away the discoloration and reveal smoother, softer lips,” explains Megha Asher, Co-founder of Juicy Chemistry.
While there's no cure for melasma, there is a range of treatments that target pigmentation and melanin production in skin cells and can help to keep it under control. Since it's likely to recur too, maintenance treatments are generally recommended, with a particular emphasis on light protection to prevent relapses [1].
Lemon juice: The citric acid in lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent. Apply lemon juice directly onto lips, mix it to half strength with water or blend with a little honey before applying to lips. Just be sure to moisturize afterwards, as lemon juice can be drying.
“Melasma appears more in a block formation, whereas hyperpigmentation has a more mottled appearance on the skin. And under a Woods lamp, the melasma will appear unchanged under the light,” she says.
Foods high in glycemic index (GI), such as refined carbohydrates and sugary foods, can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels. This can trigger hormonal changes in the body, including increased insulin production and inflammation, which may worsen melasma symptoms.
Almond oil is a great source of Vitamin E which is also powerful in lightening the melanin pigment. Hence dentists recommend almond oil massage to remove discoloration in lips. If you add a few drops of lemon juice to almond oil, it enhances the depigmentation effects.
Avoid hot, spicy, and salty foods as it may cause added irritation. Avoid large bodies of water, direct sun exposure, teeth whitening, rubbing and smoking. Do not pick or scratch the lips as it may lead to a loss of pigment and/or scarring.
Colour correcting and concealing is the best way to cover beard shadow or under eye darkness. A peach colour corrector gets rid of blue undertones of the skin, such as beard shadow. If you have darker skin, use an orange colour corrector instead.
Tranexamic acid: You may apply this medication to your skin or take it as a pill. In studies, tranexamic acid has been shown to decrease the patches of melasma when other treatments fail to work. If tranexamic acid is prescribed, it's usually prescribed as a pill that you take twice a day.
Makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran recommends first applying a full-coverage concealer that matches the shade of your melasma to any patches on your skin. Then, dab your usual foundation or concealer over it.
A full-coverage peach-colored concealer can hide melasma spots effectively. What color concealer hides pigmentation? Peach or pink color concealers are highly effective in hiding hyperpigmented spots for light to medium skin tone.