Learn More About Early Vitiligo on Lips & Get Treatment Tips
Vitiligo on lips is a skin condition where your lip’s natural pigmentation fades away in patches. It’s not dangerous but it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing. Thankfully, there are treatments and home remedies you can use to reduce the appearance of vitiligo on the lips. Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes the loss of color from the lips in certain areas. Symptoms of vitiligo on the lips include white or discolored patches, lip burning or itching, and thinning lips. Although it is not common for people to have vitiligo on their lips, those who do experience this symptom tend to have these issues more severely than other body parts.
The Cause of vitiligo on lips
Vitiligo occurs when the pigment cells (melanocytes) that create color in the skin stop working. Commonly, vitiligo is caused by autoimmune systems attacking and killing skin cells, exposing the lighter under-skin color. Therefore, reducing skin pigmentation leads to lesions or patches commonly seen on light-haired people and dark-skinned individuals who have seen their dark this slowly fade away due to an excess of melanin loss. The most noticeable symptom of vitiligo on the lips is the appearance of white patches or spots on them which are usually oval in shape or round in appearance. Other symptoms include burning, tingling, or itching sensation in those areas as well as potential discoloration of other surrounding areas such as around the eyes and mouth.
Early Vitiligo On Lips
Early vitiligo on the lips is an autoimmune disorder that affects pigmentation in the skin. It causes a loss of color, or depigmentation of the skin, and can appear as white patches. The early stages of vitiligo typically occur on the lips, making it easier to recognize. Symptoms include small white spots or patches that eventually expand and merge together. These spots are usually symmetrical on both sides of the body, meaning they appear in similar places on both left and right sides. In some cases, additional changes occur such as eyebrow and eyelash loss, premature graying hair (usually starting at the temples or beard area), and alterations to sweat glands or taste buds in certain areas of the mouth.
The symptoms of vitiligo on lips
- Discoloration: The most common symptom of vitiligo on the lips is patches of discolored skin, which can be lighter or darker than the surrounding area. There may also be some lightening or darkening around the edges of the patch.
- Unpigmented Areas: Unpigmented areas may develop on the lips and may be quite visible. These areas will appear to have no color at all, and may even cause a contrast with other parts of the face.
- Sensitivity: The skin around these patches or unpigmented areas can become very sensitive to extreme temperatures or irritants such as certain products and makeup removers. This can lead to significant discomfort and irritation when exposed to such triggers.
- Skin Dryness: People with vitiligo may experience skin dryness around their lips, making routine activities such as lip balm application important for proper hydration throughout the day.
- Swelling: Swelling of the lips may also be a sign of vitiligo, due to inflammation in the affected areas caused by sun exposure or contact with certain material/products that could aggravate it further.
The Treatment
For many people who experience mild cases of lip vitiligo where only small portions are affected (as opposed to larger “segments” taking up large parts of either one’s upper and/or lower lip), symptoms normally don’t affect everyday living much nor does it require medical attention because no medical treatments presently work perfectly at repigmentation—only camouflage makes true cosmetic improvement possible depending upon each individual case severity level and location(s). Below are some treatment options you can go for
- Light therapy: Light therapy, or phototherapy, is one of the most common treatment options for vitiligo on the lips. This type of treatment involves exposing affected skin areas to carefully controlled sources of light, usually a combination of ultraviolet and visible light. This helps to pigment the skin over time as it stimulates melanocyte activity and promotes melanin production.
- Topical corticosteroids: For some, topical corticosteroids can help reduce inflammation caused by vitiligo, as well as improve the appearance of the lip area. Topical corticosteroids are creams or ointments that contain synthetic variations of a naturally produced hormone that have anti-inflammatory properties when applied topically on the skin. Most topical steroids come in various strengths.
- Vitamin C cream: Vitamin C cream is another option for treating vitiligo on the lips. As well as stimulating pigment production, vitamin C also promotes healing and reduces inflammation associated with vitiligo lesions. A study has also shown that using topical vitamin C induces repigmentation in patients with vitiligo affecting their face and scalp so it may be worth trying if you’re looking for an alternative way to treat your vitiligo on your lips without using stronger medications such as steroids or phototherapy
- Camouflage makeup: If you’ve been unable to fully restore color to your lips through other methods, camouflage makeup can help to disguise any remaining discoloration on the lips if needed. Camouflage makeup will even out any remaining patches of depigmentation and enable you to feel more confident about your appearance once again
- Immunosuppressive drugs: Immunosuppressive drugs are powerful medications that suppress the body’s immune system in order to reduce inflammation from autoimmune diseases such as vitiligo.
- Calcipotriene Copper Salt Cream: Calcipotriene copper salt cream is a topical prescription medication used for treating psoriasis but can also be used effectively in treating portions affected by vitiligo. The cream contains calcipotriol which binds cell receptors responsible for stimulating melanocytes that create pigment cells, thereby successfully restoring color into lighter patches caused by Vitiligo.
- Excision: Excision is a surgical procedure that consists of removing certain parts that have lost their pigmentation due to Vitiligo. It involves cutting away at some part of otherwise healthy skin around areas where color isn’t retained anymore before suturing them back together.
Home Remedies For Vitiligo On Lips
- Aloe vera is a natural moisturizer that can help with dry, scaly skin associated with vitiligo on the lips. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness and itching in the area. Apply fresh Aloe vera gel to your lips twice daily for best results.
- Coconut oil is known to possess antioxidant and antibacterial properties that can help condition the lips, improve hydration levels, prevent infection due to vitiligo, and reduce inflammation caused by vitiligo. Apply a thin layer of coconut oil to the affected areas of your lips twice daily for the best results.
- Turmeric contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds known as curcuminoids that can help treat Vitiligo due to its potential healing properties. Mix one teaspoon of turmeric paste with one tablespoon of honey or milk and apply this onto your lips twice a day until you see an improvement in your condition.
- Garlic is theorized to be beneficial in treating Vitiligo thanks to its antioxidant and antiseptic properties that may help promote healing in damaged cells associated with the condition. Crush 1 fresh garlic clove into a paste and apply it on your lips directly before you go to sleep every night for the best results.
- Vitamin E oil helps prevent sunburn protects from further discoloration due to UV rays, reinforces the skin’s protective barriers, soothes dryness and discomfort associated with Vitiligo on the lips, and promotes healing naturally due to its powerful antioxidant properties too
- Vitamin B12 is an important component that helps stimulate cell growth necessary for skin repair due to its powerful anti-inflammatory effects associated with Vitiligo on the lips as well as other parts of the body People suffering from vitiligo should try taking vitamin B12 supplements as advised by their healthcare provider or doctors.
Summing Up,
Vitiligo on the lips can be difficult for some people to cope with mentally or emotionally due to its presence being exposed to others making it necessary for many sufferers to seek out psychological counseling from trained professionals if feeling overwhelmed by their diagnosis.
