How to Get Rid of Smoker’s Lips: Lip Scrubs & More

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Natural remedies and medical treatments to lighten and brighten your lips
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Have you noticed that your lips have gotten darker over the years? This phenomenon, also called smoker’s lips, is caused by the tobacco inside of cigarettes. Along with darkened skin, you may also notice fine lines or wrinkles on or around your lips. Fortunately, there are many home remedies and medical treatments you can choose from to lighten and plump your lips again. If you’re ready to get your lips back to their natural state, keep reading!

Lightening Lips from Smoking

Brighten your lips by exfoliating them 3-4 times per week with cinnamon, sugar, or baking soda. Or, make a lightening treatment out of honey, lemon, or rose petals. Look into medical treatments to lighten your lips, too, like chemical peels or laser treatments.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Exfoliating Scrubs

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  1. First, mix ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) of cinnamon with a drop of lemon juice in a small bowl. Then, scoop the cinnamon scrub onto your fingers and gently rub it across your lips. [1] Depending on how sensitive your lips are, you can exfoliate with the cinnamon scrub for up to 10 minutes to remove dead skin, stimulate circulation, and naturally plump your lips.
    • Instead of lemon juice, you can use a drop of vitamin E oil, which can boost the regeneration and growth of cells in your lips.
    • Lemon juice can help regulate the melanin production in your skin, which will make your lips lighter and pinker. Plus, lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent.
    • Using a lip scrub helps get rid of dead skin, leading to brighter, lighter lips. Exfoliate your lips once a week to avoid irritating your skin.
  2. Scrub your lips with a toothbrush and petroleum jelly to hydrate them. Smear a dime-sized amount of petroleum jelly onto the bristles of a soft toothbrush. [2] Rub the bristles on your lips in a circular motion to exfoliate dead skin while stimulating blood flow to your lips. Continue rubbing for 3 to 4 minutes, then rinse your lips with water to remove the jelly.
    • Make sure that you rub your lips gently with the toothbrush bristles so that you don’t cause bleeding and irritation.
    • After exfoliating your lips, apply a moisturizer such as lip balm or an overnight lip mask.
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  3. Mix 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of white granulated sugar, 1 to 2 drops of olive oil, and 1 to 2 drops of lemon juice in a small bowl until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to your lips and scrub it in a circular motion to help brighten your lips and remove damaged skin. After exfoliating for a few minutes, rinse the sugar scrub off with water. [3]
    • Try gently scrubbing the paste on your lips for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then, leave it on for about 10 to 20 more minutes to allow olive oil and lemon juice to soak into your skin and help it heal. [4]
    • Instead of olive oil, you can make a honey lip scrub to help hydrate your lips while you exfoliate.
  4. First, place 2 teaspoons (10 grams) of baking soda in a small bowl. Stir in just enough water to make a thick paste. [5] Then, massage the paste over your lips to get rid of the smoke-damaged top layer of skin. After exfoliating for about 3 to 5 minutes, rinse the paste off your lips with water.
    • Because baking soda can dry out your lips, apply a lip moisturizer, such as almond oil or petroleum jelly, after exfoliating.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Natural Topical Remedies

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  1. Mix honey and lemon extract to make a natural lip-lightening treatment. Stir about 1 ⁄ 4 teaspoon (1.2 mL) of honey with 1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of lemon extract in a small bowl. Apply the salve over your lips and leave it on for at least 30 minutes, or overnight. Then, gently wipe of the honey and lemon mixture with a clean cloth.
    • The lemon extract in this salve has astringent properties that can help lighten your lips , while the honey will help moisturize your lips and heal damaged skin.
    • You can apply this treatment as frequently as you want until your lips return to their natural color.
  2. Using a mortar and pestle , mash 1 to 2 rose petals as much as you can. Add a dime-sized amount of honey and heavy cream to the bowl and stir until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to your lips and leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes, then wash it off with water and a clean cloth.
    • Rose petals not only lighten the color of your lips, they can also help nourish your lips.
    • For best results, apply this paste to your lips several times per week.
  3. Combine 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of beetroot juice with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of honey in a small bowl. Using a cotton swab, massage the mixture over your lips until they are completely covered. Leave the mixture on overnight, then rinse it off with water in the morning. [6]
    • Beetroot not only lightens your lips by tinting them, it also helps give them a subtle pink hue.
    • Repeat this process every night for 1 week or as long as needed to return your lips to their lighter, natural color.
  4. Mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of melted coconut oil with 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of pomegranate juice in a small bowl. [7] Rub the mixture across your lips for about 30 seconds before washing it off with water.
    • Pomegranates not only lighten your lips, they can also prevent the production of melanin, which can make your lips darker.
    • Apply pomegranate juice mixture to your lips once per day for a month or as needed to lighten your lips.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Medical Treatments

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  1. Make an appointment with a dermatologist and ask them about a laser treatment. During this treatment, a doctor will use a laser to target and get rid of dark marks on your lips. Similar to using a laser for tattoo removal, it may take multiple sessions to fully eradicate any dark marks. [8]
    • Laser treatments are minimally invasive, and the recovery time usually only takes a few hours. However, they can be painful, and typically aren’t covered by insurance.
  2. Acid peels, or chemical peels, use special chemicals to slough off the top layer of skin on your lips or face. Make an appointment with a licensed dermatologist, then ask them if an acid peel is right for you. [9]
    • Chemical peels typically take 7 to 14 days to heal, depending on how long they are left on. Your doctor will tell you what to do before and after to speed up the healing process.
    • Chemical peels may cause redness, irritation, and discomfort. Unfortunately, they are considered cosmetic procedures and are typically not covered by insurance.
  3. Anti-wrinkle injections, like Botox, tighten and freeze the muscles in the face to lessen the appearance of wrinkles. Make an appointment with a cosmetologist or a dermatologist, then ask about getting Botox injections around your lips. [10]
    • Botox is not permanent, and most people need injections once every 4 months or so.
  4. Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are injected underneath the skin with a needle. They can help plump up your lips and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. Visit a licensed cosmetologist or a dermatologist, then ask about dermal fillers. [11]
    • Dermal fillers are temporary, meaning they will break down and dissolve over time. Most people get dermal fillers every 3 to 6 months.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Preventing Dark Lips

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  1. Quit smoking to get rid of smoker’s lips and keep your lips healthy. While quitting can be very difficult and often takes a lot of willpower and support, it can be worth it if you want to keep your lips healthy and pink, as well as improve your overall health. [12]
    • If you currently smoke and want to quit, using a tobacco aid, seeking outside support, or deciding to go cold turkey may be able to help you quit for good.
  2. Stay hydrated to help limit the effects of smoking. Aim to drink about 8 glasses of water per day to keep your body (and your lips) hydrated. [13] When your lips get dehydrated, they’re more likely to get chapped, which makes them more susceptible to smoke. By staying hydrated, you’ll help prevent your lips from getting darker.
    • The amount of fluids you’ll need to drink to stay hydrated varies depending on a number of factors, including your health, how active you are, and where you live. In general though, men need about 15.5 cups (3,700 mL) of fluids, while women need about 11.5 cups (2,700 mL) of fluids to stay adequately hydrated. [14]
    • Fluids include water, other hydrating liquids, and food that has a high water content, such as berries and cucumbers.
  3. Anytime you go outside, use a lip balm with SPF to shield your lips from harmful UV rays. Wear a hat as often as possible, and stay in the shade if you’re outdoors for long periods of time. [15]
    • UV rays will not only darken your lips, but can increase the risk of cancer, too.
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      • For best results, exfoliate your lips about 3 to 4 times per week until your lips return to their natural color. [16]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/MXbjPmH4MtA?t=176
      2. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a6392/life-changing-beauty-tricks-to-do-with-a-toothbrush/
      3. ↑ https://www.thehealthsite.com/beauty/tips-to-get-rid-of-smokers-dark-lips-naturally-139226/
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/3p85Mj0uhtw?t=61
      5. ↑ https://www.vogue.com.au/beauty/skin/how-to-properly-exfoliate-your-lips/news-story/8fda5c0c756db858d2df52f4b59cc7e7
      6. ↑ https://pioneerthinking.com/how-to-use-beetroot-for-pink-lips
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/2pWZFVacRuE?t=66
      8. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/skin-conditions-lasers-treat
      9. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/younger-looking/chemical-peels-faqs
      1. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/dermal-filler-dos-and-donts-wrinkles-lips-and-more
      2. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/dermal-filler-dos-and-donts-wrinkles-lips-and-more
      3. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/how-to-quit-smoking.htm
      4. ↑ https://www.skincancer.org/blog/5-tips-for-your-lips/
      5. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
      6. ↑ https://www.skincancer.org/blog/5-tips-for-your-lips/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/3p85Mj0uhtw?t=79

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        Aug 27, 2023

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