When you have a dark shadow over your upper lip, it can make you feel embarrassed. Whether it's the result of a hormone change, sun exposure or hair removal practices, the goal is the same: get rid of the shadow for a smoother, more even appearance. You may find that some of your daily practices are contributing to your dark shadow, and it can be remedied easily. Other conditions may require the help of a dermatologist to correct.
Step 1
Apply a good quality sunscreen of SPF 30 or above, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Your dark shadow may be caused by melasma, the clinical term for the darkening of the upper lip, usually due to hormone changes in the body. Unfortunately, the sun can exacerbate melasma symptoms so the shadow is darker, so protecting yourself from UVA and UVB rays will help diminish dark pigmentation.
Step 2
Swap shaving for waxing if your dark shadow is the result of stubble. When you shave hair, it cuts the hair bluntly for short-term results. When the hair grows back, it often looks darker and thicker because of the blunt end. Waxing pulls hair from the root, notes KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. This makes for longer lasting results, finer regrowth and less of a shadow over your upper lip.
Step 3
Purchase exfoliating scrub with an abrasive agent from the drugstore, or make some yourself by mixing 1 cup of brown sugar with 3 tbsp. olive oil. Apply the scrub to the skin above your lip, rubbing in circular motions for up to a minute before rinsing it away with cool water. This will slough away dead skin cells that could be clogging pores. Exfoliation works by removing the top layer of dead skin, which could reveal lighter, fresher skin underneath. Microdermabrasion also works when the dark shadow is a result of dark pigmentation.
Step 4
Visit your dermatologist to talk about treatment options. For some, a cream or ointment containing tretinoin, kojic acid and azelaic acid can help to fade the dark pigmentation, notes Medline Plus. Your dermatologist may also prescribe hydroquinone cream, which effectively bleaches the skin so the shadow is less noticeable.
If your dark shadow is hormone related, you may be asked to undergo hormone replacement therapy to replenish some of the estrogen in your body, according to Deborah Sarnoff, clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center, in an article on Oprah.com
Step 5
Purchase a pregnancy test or have one done in your doctor's office. Melasma often plagues women when they are pregnant. If your dark shadow is pregnancy-induced melasma, the dark shadow will likely go away in the few months following the birth of your baby, without any special treatment or prescriptions.
Things You'll Need
- Sunscreen
- Wax kit
- Exfoliating scrub
- Brown sugar
- Olive oil
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