Dec 27, 2025
Hyperpigmentation around mouth—practical ways to fade dark spots and even tone. Learn causes, easy home care, and when to see a doctor.
If the skin around your lips looks darker than the rest of your face, you are not alone. Hyperpigmentation around the mouth is extremely common in Indian skin due to melanin activity and frequent triggers like sun, heat, friction, and hormonal changes. The good news is that with steady sun care, gentle actives, and a patient routine, tone can look more even.
Quick take: Identify the trigger (sun, friction, breakouts, hormones), protect daily, treat slowly, and support skin from within.
Hyperpigmentation around the mouth happens when excess melanin collects in the perioral area (the skin around your lips). This shows up as brown or grey-brown shadows, often deeper than the rest of your face. Melanin works like natural “ink.” When skin receives signals—sun, heat, irritation, hormones—it prints more ink in that zone.
Sun and heat: Both trigger melanocytes (pigment cells) to produce more colour.
Post-inflammation: Pimples, lip licking, dermatitis, shaving cuts, and reactions leave lingering marks.
Friction: Tight masks, scarves, chin straps, rubbing, or harsh scrubs deepen pigmentation.
Hormonal shifts: Period cycles, pregnancy, and oral contraceptives affect pigment pathways.
Dryness: A weak barrier gets irritated, increasing melanin production.
Genetics: Indian, South Asian, and deeper skin tones naturally make more melanin.
Perioral pigmentation means darkening specifically around the mouth. Melanin imbalance means pigment is produced unevenly or in excess in certain zones.
The aim is not to “remove” melanin but to reduce triggers and calm the pigment cycle for a more even tone.
Daily sunscreen: Use SPF 30+ every morning, reapplying every 2–3 hours outdoors.
Gentle cleanser: Twice daily; avoid harsh, drying foams.
Night actives: Start with one — azelaic acid, niacinamide, liquorice extract, kojic derivative, or a mild AHA.
Moisturise: Keeps barrier healthy and reduces chance of irritation.
Avoid friction: Stop lip licking, picking, rubbing, and harsh exfoliation.
Track progress: Same-light selfie every 2 weeks.
AM: Cleanser → Hydrating serum or niacinamide → Moisturiser → Sunscreen
PM: Cleanser → Azelaic acid or liquorice/kojic derivative → Moisturiser
Tip: Add only ONE new active every 2 weeks to avoid irritation, which worsens pigmentation.
If it fades after 7 days of strict sunscreen: Sun exposure is the main cause.
If it stays the same: Consider friction, shaving, toothpaste irritation, old acne marks, or hormonal triggers.
A dermatologist may add prescription creams, chemical peels, or procedures. Sunscreen remains essential during all treatments.
In Ayurveda, pigmentation is linked to heat, inflammation, and digestive imbalance. Herbs, calming routines, and dietary changes aim to stabilise these processes. This approach pairs well with modern sunscreen + gentle actives.
Amiy formulas are natural and doctor-formulated, designed around:
Bio-Neuromodulation™: Supporting balanced nerve-skin communication that may influence stress-linked pigment flares.
Complex Plant Elixir™: Synergistic botanicals for deeper internal support.
Where dark marks follow acne, Acne SOS may help reduce new post-inflammatory pigmentation.
If bloating or sluggish digestion is affecting skin tone, Gut Reset supports the gut–skin link.
For cyclical darkening around periods, Period Pacifier may support hormonal steadiness.
Use internal support along with sunscreen and gentle, slow-building topicals.
Acne Scars Treatment: Fade Marks Safely at Home | Amiy Naturals
Cystic acne treatment: calm deep, painful pimples safely | Amiy Naturals
8–12 weeks of steady sunscreen and gentle actives. Deeper marks take longer.
Azelaic acid (10%), niacinamide (4–5%), liquorice extract, kojic derivative, or mild AHAs — used one at a time.
Yes. Reduce friction, prep skin properly, and soothe afterward.
Yes, if you sit near windows or screens. UV and visible light affect pigment.
Repair the barrier first. Patch test every new product. Avoid acids during active flares.
Yes. Balanced meals, hydration, and gut support help reduce inflammatory triggers.
If dark marks around your mouth follow breakouts, consider Acne SOS as a steady support step to reduce new post-inflammatory pigmentation.
If stress, bloating, or menstrual fluctuations worsen uneven tone, pair your routine with inner supports like Gut Reset for digestion balance and Period Pacifier for cyclical variations.
