Shabina Akhtar explains: Blackening of the lips is a common side effect of chain smoking.

Each puff on a cigarette delivers nicotine to the brain and the blood stream within a few seconds. “The level of nicotine present in the blood of smokers acts as chemical stimulators and accelerates the process of melanin (pigments or substances responsible for skin colouration) deposition in skin. This increased quantity of melanin imparts a greyish black hue to the skin,” says Dr Shrabani Ghosh Zoha, consultant dermatologist, R.K. Mission Seva Pratisthan, Calcutta.

Nicotine causes the blood capillaries to constrict, leading to a reduced flow of blood through the tissues which causes the accumulation of toxic contents in our body. This chronic insult to the superficial skin of the lips makes it loose its moisture and elasticity thereby making it dry and dull look to it. “It’s not only the lips that get stained but the over all skin, teeth, gums, nails, roof of the pharynx, and lungs get stained too,” she adds. The facial skin being more sensitive has to bear the brunt of the assault. So the deposition of melanin in the facial region becomes more prominent. The damage rendered to the skin doesn’t revert even after quitting smoking.

Lips can also turn dark due to pigmentation caused by sun exposure, or hormones, allergy, prolonged exposure to the sun or due to sucking of lip.

The question was sent by Sagarmoy Deb, Dibrugarh, Assam