Why Is My Upper Lip So Dark?

One of the side effects of sun damage is that it causes your skin to overproduce melanin and people of colour, especially women, are more susceptible to this as our melanin cells are larger and more active. Too much melanin clustered together leads to discolorations such as that dreaded “mustache”.

Sun protection and even sun avoidance is essential in preventing this sun damage but even those who use sunscreen everyday can end up with that dark upper lip. This is because it’s very easy for us to unconsciously wipe off our sunscreen during the course of the day.

Aside from sun damage, pregnancy can also trigger our skin to produce more melanin. If you think this might be the reason why, speak to a physician on the best way forward.

How Can I Get Rid of “Sun Mustache”?

The first step is to prevent it from forming in the first place. You must be religious about applying sunscreen (at least SPF 30 or higher) 365 days a year, rain or shine and whether you’re inside or outside. Also, avoid the sun where possible (especially from 10 AM to 4 PM) and wear protective clothing like hats and sunglasses.

Up next, incorporate skin brightening products into your routine (not bleaching products! We spoke about the difference in our post on Toning vs Bleaching). These will work at restoring your natural skin tone without damaging it. Good ingredients for this include azelaic acid, glycolic acid and vitamin c. Check out our post on these ingredients for more information before you step out to buy some.

Getting rid of a dark upper lip requires both patience and a combination of the right products for your skin, which can be difficult to find on your own. Our skin specialists are eager to help out with that, just send us a message on Whatsapp.