Hyperpigmentation around the mouth
1. It’s not dirt. It’s not ‘bad hygiene.’ It’s literally melanin being melanin.
Brown skin is rich in melanocytes, and those melanocytes LOVE being dramatic.
Triggers like:
dryness
heat
friction
hormonal fluctuations
lip licking (we all do it, shhh)
toothpaste irritation
past acne inflammation
…can all turn into pigmentation way faster in melanin-rich skin.
2. The secret trigger no one talks about: toothpaste irritation
Listen. SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) is that girl - but not in a good way.
She causes irritation and micro-inflammation around the mouth → which your melanin hears and responds to with “oh? pigment?? say less.”
Switching to an SLS-free toothpaste alone can soften discoloration over 4–6 weeks.
Try it before buying $200 serums!
3. Heat is a HUGE pigmentation trigger - and it comes from your daily habits
We always talk about UV, but guess what ALSO darkens brown skin?
Heat.
From:
hot beverages held close to your face
standing over steaming pots
hot showers hitting your mouth area
Miami weather babe (iykyk)
Heat activates tyrosinase → increases pigment.
So if your hyperpigmentation gets worse in the kitchen or shower, this is why.
4. The ingredients that are proven to work (for brown skin specifically)
If you want real results, these are the ingredients derms recommend for melanated skin:
For brightening + evening:
Azelaic acid (10–20%)
Niacinamide
Vitamin C (THD or Ascorbyl Glucoside if sensitive)
Tranexamic acid
Kojic acid (spot treat only)
For texture + turnover:
Retinol or retinal (2–3x/week max to avoid irritation)
For barrier support:
Ceramides
Fatty moisturizers
The trick is consistency without irritation. Irritation = more pigment.
5. The “friction rule” - your lips might be causing shadows
Dark shadows around the mouth can also come from:
Over-exfoliating
Waxing too aggressively
Constant masking (RIP pandemic era)
Rubbing or tugging at the skin
Lip dryness/cracking
Brown skin LOVES to pigment when traumatized.
6. SPF around the mouth is the real glow-up trick
I swear to you, when I started intentionally applying sunscreen above the lip line and around the corners, my entire lower face changed.
Brown-skin hyperpigmentation darkens 3x faster without SPF.
Hydrating SPF + lip SPF = chef’s kiss.