Can smoking cause lips to turn black?
May 05, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wan
Introduction
If smoking occasionally, the lips may not turn black; however, if smoking over a long period, they might become darkened.
With occasional smoking, there is less friction on the lips, so discoloration may not occur. However, with long-term smoking, prolonged friction on the lips combined with tar deposition may lead to pigmentation on the lips and surrounding skin, resulting in darkened lips.
Generally, occasional smoking may not cause the lips to darken; however, long-term smoking may lead to darkening of the lips. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. No darkening
Tobacco contains various harmful substances such as nicotine, acetone, carbon monoxide, and tar. If smoking is occasional, the lips experience minimal friction and limited exposure to substances like nicotine and tar, so they may not darken.
2. Darkening occurs
With long-term smoking, the mucous membranes of the lips are frequently exposed to high temperatures during smoking. Additionally, tar may cause pigment deposition on the lips and surrounding skin, leading to lip darkening. Moreover, prolonged smoking increases the risk of developing chronic bronchitis, hypertension, emphysema, and other health conditions, which are detrimental to overall health. Therefore, smokers are advised to quit smoking whenever possible.
It should be noted that lip darkening is not always caused by smoking—it may also be related to factors such as excessive fatigue, hypoxemia, or heart disease. Patients are advised to promptly visit a hospital to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
