Dental Monthly
MAY 2026 edition #55
LIPS
The vermillion of the lips — which is the part that most people refer to when talking about the lips — can range in color from very light pink to dark brown. However the colour of lips can change….
Unlike the rest of your skin, which is made of multiple cellular layers, your lips are only made up of three to five. This makes the tissue thinner and more fragile and an indicator of your state of health or of your habits, so I always observe it carefully. Let’s look at some colours.
Blue lips
Sudden Colour changes however are important. Bluish or grayish lips can indicate an immediate, serious health risks like lack of oxygen and severe breathing difficulties (cyanosis), This requires urgent care, if the colour does not normalize after warming up or if there are symptoms like gasping for air, chest pain, or dizziness. We have an emergency and you should call an ambulance immediately.
White lips
White or pale lips are often accompanied by general paleness affecting the face, lining of the eyes, inside of the mouth, and the nails. This might be caused by Anemia, which is a low red blood cell count. Anemia that causes pale or white lips is severe and requires immediate medical attention, especially in the elderly.
Another common cause of white lips is Oral Thrush (oral candidiasis). Candida is an organism that usually exists in low numbers in your mouth. If an overgrowth of Candida occurs, you end up with oral thrush, which can cause white lesions also on the lips. This needs to be treated with specific medication. We see this, again, in the elderly and people who have an immunodeprressive syndrom or have undergone transplants.
Orange lips.
People who smoke or vape, will have a chronic dehydration of the lips. Therefore they easily stain by nicotine. The darker pigmentation, and orange-like stains are the result. But also the opposite a pale discoloration may occur. We advice to always apply nurturing balms used in the summer or winteradvice to protect your lips from staining.
Black lips
Again Smoking can cause your lips and gums to darken on the border of the vermilion and inside soft tissues. Most smokers have lip and gingival pigmentation that tends to become black in heavy smokers. Some eating habits may stain your lips permanently and some indigenous populations in Japan stain tatou their lips black for aesthetic reasons.
Spotted lips
When there is a pattern like polkadot lips. Their causes range from harmless sunspots to spots that are a symptom of a medical condition. Sunspots are dark spots that develop on parts of the body that get the most sun exposure, such as the face and hands.It is very important to always use sunblock also for your lips. What is an innocent spot now may develop in something else. For example Melanoma. Sometimes, a dark spot on the lip can be a cancerous growth. Therefore, spots that are new, have an irregular shape or color, increase in size rapidly, bleed, or have a scar-like appearance are considered suspicious and I will send you in to a maxilla facial surgeon for evaluation.
Medical conditions Hemochromatosis is a disorder in which the body stores too much iron. It affects many and it appears also with spots on your lips. Hyperpigmentation of the skin is also a common sign, and some people develop dark gray or brown patches on the skin and lips.
Finally, it is only natural when Lips start appearing paler, thinner, and less defined with Age. This is caused by reduced collagen, slower blood circulation, cumulative UV damage, and hormonal shifts that break down pigments. The lips actually deflate and turn inward so its colour is also less noticeable.
For those who are interested to reacquire the outline or lost volume you can reach out to Studio Moll where I can explain what options there are for your lips we treat with reabsorbable solutions.
For appointments call 055-755347 or whatsapp 331-6368628
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