Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on the lips

The lip surface is delicate and can react to saliva, fragranced balms, cosmetics, dental products, bites, burns, or a flare of Atopic Dermatitis. After the irritation settles, extra melanin may leave a brown or grey patch. Acne can affect the skin around the mouth and leave a mark, but new or persistent lip colour change should not automatically be labelled PIH. A clinician may examine the border, surface texture, and surrounding skin.

Stop products that sting or contain fragrance, avoid licking and picking, and use a bland moisturising ointment. Choose lip protection with broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors and reapply as directed. Do not apply facial acids, bleaching creams, or peels to the lips unless a clinician specifically prescribes them. Treatment for Skin Brightening Treatment or a Chemical Peel is not interchangeable with care for the lip surface; professional advice is needed before any procedure.

Arrange a review if the patch is one-sided, enlarging, persistently scaly, sore, ulcerated, bleeding, crusted, or changing in shape or colour. Seek prompt help for marked swelling, pus, fever, or breathing difficulty. A routine dermatology visit can assess ongoing contact irritation, infection, medication effects, or another pigmented lesion.

Ask which product or habit may be causing irritation, whether the colour is PIH, what lip-safe protection to use, and whether a treatment is suitable for the lip itself or only the surrounding skin.