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What Causes Darkening Of A Portion Of Lips After Applying Demelan?

Posted on Thu, 2 Apr 2015

Question: Hi,
I've been suggested by a doctor to apply Demelan cream on the lower part of my lower lips as it's a bit dark as compared to the colour of the rest of the lips.
Kindly suggest if it's okay to apply this cream on that portion of the lips.

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is OK to apply on dark portion of lip

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome to HealthcareMagic,
Demelan cream contains glycolic acid+arbutin+kojic acid it is used for the maintenance of hyperpigmented area. Its result on lip is good.
I used it as a maintenance cream after chemical peeling.

Sometimes it causes irritation and redness as a side effect of this cream if this happens contact your dermatologist.

I will advise you to apply sunscreen containing lip balm in addition to demelan.
Blistex lip balm or Chiropex lip balm contain sunscreen with SPF 15. apply this every two hourly on your lip.

Hope this will help you.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (18 minutes later)

Thanks for the reply.
I hope this cream won't darken the lips more, right?
Is Demelan used both for the face
as well as the lips?

Will this cream lighten the dark portion of my lips
if I use it properly for a month?
At night, do I need to apply
just a small bit of it on the lips?

Anyway, the doctor has also told me to apply
Sebamed lip defense which contains SPF 30 every day twice for 1 month.
So, can I continue using Sebamed?

Thanks
Sahir

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
does not darken more

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,

If you will use properly only on dark area of lip it will lighten that area.
If irritation occurs it may cause hyperpigmentation due to irritant contact dermatitis.

Stop applying it immediately if side effects (stinging) occurs.

Yes this cream is mainly used on face of course on hyperpigmented areas.
Apply small amount at night.
Continue with Sebamed lip defence. Apply it every two hourly specially in the first half of the day.

Hope this clears your facts.
thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (55 minutes later)

I also have Fordyce spots on the corner portion
of my lips.

And these spots have been there since
the last two to three years. A doctor suggested
that there is no treatment for this and it might
go off in the course of time or might not.

If I apply Sebamed lip defense, I hope
it won't aggravate the Fordyce spots.

Can you suggest me some home remedy
to get rid of these spots?

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No Home remedy for Fordyces spot

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,

Sebamed lip defence or any other sunscreen lip balm does not aggravates Fordyces spot.
Fordyce's spot decreases with Isotretinoin gel but complete removal is done by electrofulguration. There is no home remedy.

Hope this will help you.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (2 days later)

Hi,

I have another query. If I use Demelan cream
on the dark portion of the lips, will it aggravate the Fordyce spots?
The doctor has prescribed
Antoxid-HC capsules too. Are these capsules
good for the skin and can they control Fordyce spots?

Thanks
Sahir

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Demelan cream does not aggravates fordyces spot.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again,

No Demelan cream does not aggravates fordyces spot.
Antoxid HC capsule is an antioxidant which contains Beta Carotene 30 mg which is a good systemic sunscreen. It has nothing to do with Fordyces spot.
Although Antioxidant is very good for Skin.

Hope All your queries solved here.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (10 hours later)

Hi,

Just a last query. I have read somewhere that using a fluoridated toothpaste
for a long time can lead to darkening of the lower portion of the lips.
I have been using Peposdent since many years.

Just a few days back I have changed my toothpaste and have started
using Meswak which is a non-fluoridated toothpaste

Will using Meswak toothpaste increase the Fordyce spots on the lips
and will it lead to darkening of the lower portion of my lips?

Can I continue using Meswak toothpaste?

Thanks
Sahir

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes continue to use it

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,

Yes some toothpaste contain sodium fluoride and triclosan which are skin irritant and may lead to darkening or whitening both. It is better to use toothpaste which is free from both.
Miswak is claimed to be natural and non fluoridated.

Fordyces spot has nothing to do with toothpaste whether fluorinated or not.
So continue using miswak. If lip darkening becomes more stop using it.
It is very difficult to say that particular paste will cause irritation to particular people.
Use good quality toothbrush as low quality rubber/plastic is commonly responsible for vitiligo/hyperpigmentation.

Hope this will help you.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (3 days later)

Hi,

I just checked and found that Meswak toothpaste
also contains Triclosan. Hence I have started using Babool toothpaste
which is non florinated and doesn't contain Triclosan.
Hence can I continue with Babool?

I'm still a bit sceptical about Demelan cream.
I mean I haven't used it since the last two days.
My only concern is that it shouldn't darken the lower portion
of my lips more if I continue using it for a month as the doctor
has told me to use it for a month.
Because if that happens, then I won't realize that it has happened.

I hope it doesn't happen.

Don't doctors prescribe any tablets for hyperpigmentation
instead of these creams?

Thanks
Sahir

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tranexamic acid tab

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,

Avoid using Fluorinated and triclosan containing toothpaste.

Keep trust in your doctor and use demelan, until there is any side effect.

There is new tab containing Tranexamic acid which is used in melasma, but its trial in hyperpigmented lip is not available yet.

You can go for chemical peeling for hyperpigmented lip. It is an office procedure done by dermatologist.

Regards
Dr Shahid Hassan
MD(Dermatology).

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (3 days later)

Thanks for the reply.
However I've decided to start applying Demelan cream
on the lips again. Hope it gives good results. Do I need
a apply just a small portion of it on my lips? Do I need to rub the cream
on the lips or just apply a small portion and just leave it?

Anyway, I'm having the Antoxid HC capsule daily. The only thing is
that since the past one week I had stopped applying the Demelan cream
which I'll start applying henceforth.

Moreover I have oily skin due to which I keep getting pimples.
Sometimes if it pains, I have Doxy tablet and at times I just
wash my face with Acnelak soap. Can you suggest whether
I can continue using this soap for oily skin?

Is it advisable to have Doxy tablets for pimples?

Thanks
Sahir

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
See below

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again
Apply small amount (less than a pea size) on the dark spot and do not rub it.

Antoxid HC contains beta carotene 30 mg and works as systemic sunscreen and antioxidant. It will prevent the formation of melanin pigments as sunlight accelerates pigment formation.

Acnelak soap is good for sebum control But better option is Acne Aid face was, it is very helpful in controlling sebum control.
Yes Doxycycline tab 100 mg daily at night is advised for acne vulgaris, but choice of antibiotic depends on type of acne.

Hope this is helpful.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (32 minutes later)

Hi,
That's okay. I'll just apply a small portion.
But I suppose a few days back when I was applying this cream,
I would have applied slightly more once
even though it was not that much.
After that I had stopped applying.
I hope that won't be a problem.

How many Doxy tablets do I need to have at night
for a complete course?When I take Doxy tablets at night
can I also continue having the Antoxid HC tablets during the day?

Thanks
Sahir

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes continue both

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,

One tablet of tab Doxy 100 mg to be taken at night. Total duration may be 4 week to 12 week, it depends on the response of disease.

Yes, continue taking Antoxid HC tab in morning.

Thanks

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj