How to Get Rid of the Dark Area Around the Mouth

Co-authored by Kaveri Karhade, MD

Dark spots around the mouth may occur for a variety of reasons. They can be annoying, but luckily, it is often possible to get rid of them. Once you diagnose the reason for the dark spots, you’ll be able to choose the right treatment for you!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Diagnosing Your Dark Area

1
Understand why you have dark spots around your mouth. These spots result from high amounts of skin-darkening melanin in certain areas of your skin. This melanin can be set off by triggers from inside and outside your body. This melanin condition is called hyper-pigmentation. The triggers might include sun exposure, melasma, and skin inflammation.
- Sun spots: These dark brown clusters can take months, or even years, to show up in sun-exposed areas. Once they show up, they usually don't fade unless you treat them. This pigment shift stays near the surface of the skin, so you can treat it with creams and scrubs. Use sunscreen daily to prevent sun spots or to keep them from getting worse.
- Melasma (Chloasma): These dusky, symmetrical spots stem from hormone changes during birth-control use or pregnancy. When these hormones combine with sun exposure, dark spots can appear on the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip. This form of hyper-pigmentation tends to return easily, even if you treat it.
- Post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation: You may get dark spots that linger after a burn, pimple, or other skin abrasion. This is especially common in darker skin tones but can happen to anyone. In this case, the melanin is deep within your skin, and the dark spots may take six to twelve months to fade.^{[1]
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2
Consider the climate. The skin around your mouth is drier during cold season. Some people tend to wet that area with their saliva, which can darken the skin. If you haven't been out in the sun much, you may be over-wetting the area around your mouth.

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3
Know that the skin around your mouth is thin. This can lead to discoloration, dry skin, and mouth wrinkles. These problems do not go deep into the skin, so you will probably not need an invasive treatment. You may be able to easily get rid of your discoloration by treating or exfoliating the skin.
4
See a dermatologist. If you aren't sure what's causing the dark area around your mouth, a dermatologist may be able to diagnose the problem and suggest a treatment. Changes in the skin can be early warning signs of skin cancer and other serious disorders, so it might be wise to have a doctor check out your symptoms just in case.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creams, Scrubs, and Prescriptions

1
Exfoliate daily with a mild facial exfoliant. The exfoliant will lift dead skin cells, and over time it may fade the dark areas around your mouth. You can use a chemical or a physical exfoliant. Chemical exfoliants can be better for treating dark areas because they do not stimulate the skin like a physical exfoliant, which can exacerbate the problem.
- You can find chemical exfoliants and facial scrubs in drugstores, grocery stores, and bath-and-body stores. Read reviews of a product before you buy it. Some scrubs may be sold to treat acne and other skin conditions; these scrubs often use acids and chemicals to deep-clean your skin.
2
Use an over-the-counter skin-brightening cream. You can find moisturizing, skin-brightening pigment products in drugstores and beauty-product stores. Find a cream that contains Vitamin C, kojic acid (extracted from certain fungi species), arbutin (taken from the bearberry plant), azelaic acid (found in wheat, barley, and rye), licorice extract, niacinamide, or grapeseed extract: these ingredients help to block the enzyme tyrosinase, which your skin cells need to produce melanin. Spread a thin layer of the cream around your mouth. Follow the instructions, and don’t use these skin-lightening products for more than three weeks.
- Kojic acid is a popular treatment, but it can irritate sensitive skin. Be careful.
- If you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, avoid using azelaic acid, which comes from wheat.
3
Consider using a prescription cream. If your spots won't go away, your dermatologist may prescribe a drug-based cream like hydroquinone. Hydroquinone limits your pigment-making cells and slows your skin's production of tyrosinase. Dark spots tend to vanish quickly with lower pigment production.
- Animal studies have linked hydroquinone with cancer, but those animals were fed and injected with the drug. Most human treatments stop at topical application, and no research suggests toxicity in humans. Many dermatologists deny the cancer link.^{[2]
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- Most patients show the first signs of skin lightening within a few days, and most of the effects act within six weeks. After the treatment, you can switch to an over-the-counter cream to keep up the brighter pigment.
4
Try a laser treatment. Lasers like Fraxel tend to be the most lasting and effective way to treat discolorations that are close to the surface of the skin. However, laser pigment work is not always permanent. The effect will depend upon your genetics, your UV exposure, and your skincare habits. Lasers also tend to be more expensive than other treatments.
5
Try a glycolic or salicylic acid peel. Your dermatologist may suggest these peels to reach and treat damaged cells deep within your skin. Bear in mind that these treatments are not permanent. Depending on your genetic predisposition to dark spots—and how much UV exposure you get—your spots may return as soon as a few weeks or as late as a few years. Stay out of the sun, wear sunscreen when you do go outdoors, and treat your dark spots early to make sure that your treatment lasts longer.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Natural Remedies

1
Lighten your skin naturally with lemon juice. In a small bowl, mix the juice from 1/4 lemon with 1 tablespoon of yogurt or honey. Wash your face with warm water to open the pores. Spread the lemon mixture thickly over the dark areas, then allow the mask to dry. Gently rinse your skin clean with warm water.
- You can also blot a makeup pad with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and sugar. Scrub the dark area for 2-3 minutes, then rinse with water.
- For a heavier treatment, slice a lemon into halves and squeeze the juice onto the dark skin. Rinse after 10 minutes.
- Avoid sun exposure after using lemon. Use these treatments at night, when you won't see UV rays for a while.
- If used on your whole face, lemon juice will lighten your whole complexion, not just your dark spots.
2
Use Aloe Vera. Spread Aloe Vera gel or its fresh extracts on the dark areas. This will moisturize your skin and help it heal. Aloe Vera is most helpful if your skin is dark from sun exposure.
3
Mix grated cucumber and lime juice. Use a fairly equal amount of each ingredient, enough to cover the dark area. Spread the mixture around your mouth and leave it on your face for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. This treatment may help your skin heal.^{[3]
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4
Use a flour and turmeric mask. Prepare a paste using 2 tablespoons of gram flour, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder, and half a cup of yogurt. Spread the paste onto the dark area. Leave the treatment for 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water.^{[4]
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5
Use an oatmeal scrub. Prepare a scrub with 1 tablespoon of oatmeal, 1 teaspoon of tomato juice, and 1 teaspoon of yogurt. Mix the ingredients well. Rub the scrub gently onto the skin for 3-5 minutes. Wash it off after 15 minutes.

Expert Q&A

Question

What causes dark corners around the mouth?

Kaveri Karhade, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Kaveri Karhade, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

It could be any number of things. You may be rubbing your mouth too often, or dealing with some kind of allergic reaction. There are a few skin disorders that can cause this as well.
Question

What kind of skin brightener should I use?

Kaveri Karhade, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Kaveri Karhade, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

When it comes to topical skin brighteners, look for something with vitamin C in it. You may not see a huge change, but vitamin C is your best bet.
Question

Does touching my mouth make it darker?

Kaveri Karhade, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Kaveri Karhade, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

It can, especially if you're rubbing your lips regularly. Scrubbing or touching your lips repeatedly can certainly lead to some darkness.