Many people occasionally bite their lips when they are anxious. However, for some people, lip biting can become a habit that impacts everyday life. People with this nervous habit may get painful sores and redness on their lips. There are procedures suggested by some of the best dermatologists in Islamabad.
Lip biting can be a difficult habit to break because the behavior can become so automatic that a person may no longer be aware of it. However, there are effective ways to overcome this habit.
In this article, we will look at ways people can get pink lips naturally by using some simple home remedies and lip care techniques. These techniques are described by the best dermatologists in Islamabad and have worked for all users.
We will also look at whether having pink lips is beneficial, other factors that may discolor the lips, and whether there are any long-term cosmetic procedures that change the color of the lips.
What causes lip biting?
In some cases, physical conditions can cause a person to bite their lips when they use their mouth for talking or chewing.
In other cases, the cause can be psychological. People may bite their lips as a physical response to an emotional state, such as stress, fear, or anxiety.
Physical causes of lip biting include:
Teeth alignment issues, known as malocclusion. These include overbite and underbite and can lead to overcrowding of the teeth.
Temporomandibular disorder is a condition that affects the chewing muscles.
People with malocclusion or TMD may often bite their lips, cheeks, or tongue. A dental professional should be able to recommend treatment options, which may include dental braces or removing one or more teeth.
Treatment For Lip Biting Habit
Treatments for lip-biting differ depending on the cause. It is possible to treat physical causes such as dental problems by resolving the underlying issue. When lip biting has a psychological cause, many people benefit from counseling or behavioral therapies.
Treatments for lip-biting include:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT may be a recommended treatment for lip biting.
People with BFRBs or tics may benefitTrusted Source from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
The TLC Foundation for BFRBs recommends CBT as an effective treatment.
CBT is a step-by-step approach that focuses on changing specific behaviors by identifying their causes.
It also teaches skills that help a person change their behavior and thoughts going forward.
Habit reversal training (HRT)
Habit reversal training (HRT) is one type of CBT. It is especially effective for BFRBs and tics.
There are three key steps in HRT therapy:
- doing awareness training, so that people notice their habit when it arises
- creating a competing response, which is a different action a person can do when they feel the urge to bite their lip
- providing social support, which can be vital for helping a person overcome anxious habits
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another option for treating BFRBs, including lip biting. People with BFRBs may need help regulating emotions such as anxiety. This therapy may be useful for treating the causes behind body-focused behaviors.
The four aspects of DBT are:
- mindfulness
- distress tolerance
- emotion regulation
- interpersonal effectiveness
- Other behavioral therapies that can treat BFRBs include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and the Comprehensive Behavioral Model of Treatment (ComB). These are both relatively new and more research is necessary to confirm their effectiveness.
Medication
The general opinion is that CBT and HRT therapy are both more effective than medication for BFRBs. There are currently no specific medications to treat BFRBs.
However, some individuals may achieve relief by taking an antidepressant and anti-obsessive medications, such as clomipramine or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Medication may be useful for those who engage in BFRBs and also suffer from anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Is having pink lips a sign of health according to dermatologists?
Many people view pink lips as a sign of natural beauty or health. However, beauty trends change over time. Even lip trends change over time, with the best dermatologists suggesting that the full lips so popular today were not in fashion over a decade ago.
Despite the perception that pink lips are healthy, there is no evidence that they are healthier than any other lip color. The exception to this is if a person normally has pink lips, and they change color.
Healthy lips are typical:
- free from cracks and sores
- hydrated
- smooth
What causes dark lips according to dermatologists?
As with skin tone, the color of the lips will vary from person to person. People with darker skin tend to have darker lips. This is normal and occurs due to an increased amount of melanin in the skin. Melanin gives the skin its color.
People also can develop darker lips as a result of hyperpigmentation. This occurs when areas of the skin become darker than the surrounding area. Common causes of hyperpigmentation include:
- pregnancy
- smoking
- sun exposure
- some medications, including antimalarial drugs and the oral antibioticTrusted Source minocycline
- a medical condition, such as Addison’s disease
People with naturally dark lips may be able to temporarily make them pinker using home remedies, while those with hyperpigmentation may find that treatments for this skin condition help most. Make sure to consult with an expert dermatologist before any treatment.
How to get pink lips naturally Suggested by Dermatologists
The following home treatments may help people keep their lips hydrated and smooth, while also temporarily increasing blood flow to the area:
Lip scrubs
Gentle exfoliation can help remove dry skin that could be giving the lips a dull, rough appearance. It can also stimulate circulation, resulting in temporarily pink lips.
There are many lip scrubs available in stores or online. Alternatively, people can make their own by mixing sugar or salt with an oil such as sweet almond or coconut oil.
To use a lip scrub:
- Gently massage the scrub onto dry lips.
- Rinse off and pat the lips dry.
- Apply a lip balm.
- The skin on the lips is delicate, so do not rub hard. Do not use lip scrubs more than once or twice per week, and do not use scrubs designed for the face or body, as these may be too harsh.
Lip massage
Massage can boost circulation to the lips, which may make them appear pinker. People can gently massage the lips once a day with food-grade oil, such as coconut oil, before rinsing them off. Alternatively, people can leave the oil on overnight as a hydrating treatment.
Lip masks
Lip masks are treatments that involve applying a substance to the lips, leaving it on for a set amount of time, and then washing it off.
Some people report that lip masks containing turmeric improve the health and appearance of their lips. A 2018 systematic review trusted Source notes that turmeric may reduce hyperpigmentation on the face, which may explain why this ingredient is popular. However, more research is necessary to conclusively prove it works on the lips.
To make a turmeric lip mask:
- Mix turmeric powder with coconut oil.
- Apply to the lips and leave on for 15 minutes.
- Wash off and pat the lips dry.
- Note that turmeric can cause temporary staining of the skin around the lips.
Peppermint oil lip balm
Some cosmetic companies use peppermint oil in lip balm to create a natural pink look. Peppermint oil contains menthol, a compound that can dilate the blood vessels when applied topically, according to a 2016 study. This may result in temporarily flushed lips.
People can purchase lip balm that contains peppermint in stores or online. However, the Dermatologist advises that a person should avoid menthol and peppermint if they have chapped lips, as they can be irritating.
Tips to prevent dry or discolored lips From Dermatologists
In addition to making the lips appear temporarily pinker, people can take steps to reduce dryness, irritation, and the chance of hyperpigmentation. These include:
Wearing SPF lip balm
Applying sunscreen to the skin and lips daily is one of the most effective things a person can do to prevent hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and visible aging. It also reduces the chance of developing skin cancer.
People should wear SPF on their lips, face, and other exposed areas when going outside, even if they do not burn easily, have darker skin, or live in a cold climate. The best dermatologists in Islamabad recommend using a nonirritating lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher and titanium oxide or zinc oxide as the active ingredient.
Dermatologists Suggest Stopping smoking
Smoking can stain the lips, as well as other parts of the body that come into contact with tobacco, such as the hands. Nicotine in any form also reduces blood flow in the skin, which may reduce the color of the lips and accelerate skin aging.
Dermatologists Suggest To Keep The Skin Hydrated
People can keep their lips hydrated by:
drinking enough water
using a nonirritating lip balm that contains ingredients such as shea butter, hemp seed oil, or petrolatum.
avoiding licking, biting, or picking the lips
Licking dry lips can feel like it will help with dryness, but it actually makes dryness worse. Similarly, other habits such as biting or picking the skin on the lips can cause dryness, irritation, and bleeding.
Try to avoid these habits by replacing them with something else. Instead of licking the lips, apply a hydrating lip balm regularly. Instead of picking the skin, people may find it helpful to use a stress ball or something else that keeps their hands busy.
How to turn dark lips pink permanently?
Many dermatologists claim that people can permanently change the color of their lips using natural or home remedies. However, few of these are based on scientific evidence. Additionally, some remedies may damage the skin.
Some cosmetic treatments may help people achieve long-lasting changes to their lips. For example, laser therapy can treat hyperpigmentation. However, the results of these treatments may not last forever. The side effects can include swelling, irritation, and scarring.
