I am a woman of colour. Clicked so fast. This is a constant battle!

Video summary/solution: 1- Sun protection 2- Avoid heat exposure (hot beverages) 3- Avoid irritating foods such as cinnamon, turmeric, etc. touching your lips 4- Look for ingredients that fade hyperpigmentation

I had a BAD morning, but sitting down with a cuppa and skin care talk with Dr Dray is soothing.

Basically everthing an Indian person eats is what you said to stay away from, lol. Makes sense now why most of us Indian women have hyperpigmentation around our mouth, especially on the sides. So annoying! thanks for the video :)

Is it just me, because Dr. Dray is literally glowing day by day! ❤️

Finallyyy!! I hope this video helps me because no one talks about it seriously enough to suggest real solutions.

I’ve faded my melasma with these same guidelines that Dr. Dray has laid out. Definitely sunscreen, being gentle with the skin, and not using too many products (which I know is a natural reflex in order to try and fix the problem). The biggest change occurred though when I became more conscious about nutrition and what I was consuming. For me, I believe my melasma was catalyzed by the food I was eating, perhaps affecting my hormones, and then exacerbated by other factors (i.e. sun, stress, sleep). Everyone’s nutritional needs will be different, but I think it’s something also worth looking into.

This is my most trouble part on my face and its embarrasssing. I will keep my hand over my mouth alot while talking .. glad i found your video

Who agrees that Dr Dray is becoming more prettier by each day!❤️😍😍

This is almost creepy. I literally just searched for that two days ago, and here you are with a video.

Thank you so much for this! I will try what you recommended. This is something that makes me very insecure, specifically the darkness in the corner of the lips because even after makeup it still shows and I just feel like it ruins it and I can't stop looking at it. So I'm really gratefully to you for providing everyone with such useful information ❤

ORGANIC NEEM OIL from WholeFoods for minimum 8 weeks WORKED for me. Put on upper lip at night...just a little...spread with finger. Wipe from lips. VERY strong smell initially, but goes away quickly. I wear it under my makeup, even. It WORKS!

You are incredible. Your videos are so eloquent, plain English and direct to te point and I trust you 100%. Love you lots 😘😘😘❤️

I don't like how the lipstick applies differently on my upper & lower lip (i'm indian so it's like dark). looks odd. Looking forward to get rid of the hyperpigmentation. thanks for this video.

Having your upper lip wax may also increase your chance of getting it.

I’ve been waiting on this Thank You 🙏🏻

I think the questions are about the actual upper lip, not the mustache area. I think it is just genetic/ethnicity though...

Probably a year ago I noticed a faint bluish tint above my upper lip. I was horrified, thinking it might be a circulatory problem, particularly since I am a “woman of a certain age.” My investigating online revealed melasma & a possible hormonal connection. I was relieved I wasn’t about to croak from a heart attack. Anyway, on a recent visit to a new dermatologist, I showed her my fingernails, which have a straight dark line running from cuticle to tip on 4-5 of my nails. Then when I removed my mask, she saw my mustache & told me that it’s likely caused from years of taking Minocycline for my rosacea. She changed my meds to Doxycycline. I’m so hoping this change will help, especially since it’s less convenient to take this med (b/c of having to space out daily products, supplements, & other meds & b/c it’s a 2 x day dose). Anyway, perhaps this info. will help someone else. Thanks for your video!

I have been waiting years for this!

Thank you for the video. Never thought about all those factors. I'm medium skin tone so "all the perks" that come with that.

Can you talk about how to fade just darkness in other areas like armpits, bikini line etc?

No one: Dr. Dray: Well hey guys Me: 🙂

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE !!! Just noticed it maybe a few weeks ago. :( it makes me look like I have a stash and it’s driving me nuts!!!! 😩 and when I take my tinted sunscreen off at the end of the day I really see it and it makes me so sad :(

Dr Dray why are you so helpful, love u! Med student here.

Yes for this video! Happy Thursday Dr Dray and peeps ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Yes, my upper lip doesnt like sunscreen 😆 its the part of my face that sweats the fastest during the summer so I do have sun marks there and looks horrible 😒

I did not know that heat can cause hyperpigmentation. I got a dark upper lip from using the Finishing Touch Flawless for facial hair. It does produce a lot of heat when using it. But now I look like I have a mustache no matter how much hair I remove. So angry and frustrated for using that little gizmo, I thought I would make my life easier but I thought wrong! Thanks for all the info Dr👌🏽👍🏽 will definitely try those recommendations!! 💜😉

Hi Dr. Dray, thanks for all your advice. I have a video suggestion: best spray SPFs. The reason being for us dark girls (well, for any gal) applying sunscreen 3x a day could be more easily done at our desks while working say, if we can just mist our faces with the sunscreen. I am an architect and I have set my desk up right in front of a glorious window and I don't want to move. Very, very best to you. You're the best.

It’s hair remover cream ( crème épilatoire ) that causes this for me I’m fair with some olive undertone

I did everything nothing works . Please some one help me . I feel so embarrassed .

Happy Thursday, Dr Dray! Thanks for another interesting video. I hope you realize how many people you're helping. You're awesome!! Have a lovely evening. ❤

Well hey Dr.Drayyy! loveee ya❤️

I had brown line mark above my upper lip and its healing now . First you need to use a face razor specially for face it is available in Amazon and scrub that area with honey and lemon once in a day and you'll see the result 👍

No offense but first of all turmeric has been used topically for centuries in India to remove suntan and hyperpigmentation naturally. It is also consumed heavily with no ill effects - ask over 1 billion people. Secondly, hydroquinone is banned in many countries due to severe adverse affects. Thirdly, hyperpigmentation in brown people is often due to diabetes, insulin resistance, PCOS, thyroid issues, eczema - get these under control, and maintain healthy diet. Also frequent waxing can cause irritation. Lastly, If you are a person of color check out the 100s of brown people videos on natural ways of getting rid of hyperpigmentation. Many OTC products don't help treat dark skin.

Dr. DRAY I WANTED TO CRY WHEN YOU POSTED THIS! I HAVE A DARKER UPPER LIP BUT IT WAS FROM USING NAIR A WHILE A BACK. LISTENED TO A FRIEND AND IT IS NOW BEEN MY PROBLEM FOR 10 PLUS YEARS. DR DRAY PLEASE HELP ME!

I love your vids Dr Dray. I don't miss a single one. This one especially will be so helpful for me as I have medium skin tone. I get hyper pigmentation from even small exposure of sun. Thanks a lot for mentioning all the points!

If you have gained any new product knowledge or other insights into this issue I would LOVE another video. I tried one of the products without much success but I know different solutions work for different skin types. I’ve had dark patches on my upper lip for the last few years that won’t seem to budge and it would be awesome if you could share any new info! Thank you so much for sharing all of you knowledge! I use cereve moisturizing cream on my face every day because of your advice and it rocks and is so cheap! ❤❤❤you are the best!

Been searching for this for soo long! Thanks a lot for this video 💕

I NEEEEEED THIS! Sunstache sucks!

Happy Thursday. Thank u for always educating us ☺️

Was eagerly waiting for it. Thank you doc🙏

🙂 thank you Dr. Dray for sharing your knowledge! I love watching your videos. Btw your arms are looking really great! 🙌🏻

You look so healthy and pretty ✨🌸

Good morning ☀️ I am dark skinned and I have found that when I and my clients stopped waxing and started treating the area above the lip with actives and antioxidants, my“mustache “ completely went away. I love zinc oxide and I like shaving as opposed to waxing. I find this is a huge issue for so many and a real cause for them being self conscious. Also Turmeric masks have been amazing for dark skin just my opinion. Love you touched on this. 🍑Lisa

I agree with all your points except for heat. I remember when several dermatologists have told me that UV is the sole reason for the tanning of skin (production of melanin). Heat can't and will not tan. Excellent video regardless.

YES!!! I have been waiting for this video for so long. Thank you Dr Dray 🥰🥰🥰

Thanks!. What is the best method for hair removal from this area that will not increase the pigmentation there?

Dear doc Thanks for the video God bless u Love from India 🇮🇳

I got a dark lip from using Veet hair removal srips on my upper lip :( Thank you for the video! I will try your tips

Could we use these products to correct hyperpigmentation on the actual lips?

I was wishing for this video for a while. Thanks a lot Dr.

Hi dr dray! You should consider doing a video on skin care tips for ppl who are athletes or that sweat and shower multiple times per day!

Always great info Dr. Dray👍

You look so pretty Dr Dray!! 😚

Im so proud of u!!

Was really happy to see the title of the video as I asked this question on Instagram too ... But my problem is not the dark upper lip but actual lip... Dark lip... My lower lip is normal while upper is turning dark which looks really bad🙁 when I apply lipstick the darkness shows through the lipstick whick looks really bad😭

Oh shoot!!! 🤣 I’m from the UK i am literally always drinking boiling tea... and all of the spices you mentioned, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves... my go to homemade hot beverages. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Urban Skin Rx has Eventone Glow serum that includes a lot of these ingredients - vitamin c, arbutin, Kojic acid, azeleic acid, niacinamide. I’m not sure the KZfaq skin influencers aren’t talking about it.

Thankyou so much doctor for putting this up

Idk if mine is normal when I was younger i would like my lips a lot and they would get super chap and it created a dark circle around my mouth and it looks like a mustache.

Hi, Dr. Dray! Thanks for the video!

Dr Dray, believe it or not the thing that has worked best for my hyperpigmentation has been The Ordinary's Natural Moisturizing factors with AH. After trying various things, for years and years, this moisturizer started fading it a LOT. My skin was not abnormally dry before, I used other moisturizers, so, what could be the ingredient that's doing it? I added some of their Niacinimide serum and it's working ever more but I swear the moisturizer on its own works.

Of course, those are my favorite spices. Very interesting, Dr. Dray. I am waiting to deliver baby #3 and return for laser at my derm.

Happy Thursday! Thanks for the tips!

Tretinoin made mine so much darker. I stopped using it for 3 weeks and it almost disappeared. Now I don't used tretinoin in that area.

Thank you Dr.Dray! So helpful.

I have multiple “beauty marks” in my lips. Are these common?

Hi Dr.! Could you please consider making a video concerning Dr. Zein Obagi's approach and philisophy towards skincare? I find it slightly confusing yet very interesting. I believe as a dermatologist, you would as well...

Thank you for the Video. You can also cut the pads 🤗 greetings from Germany

I’m Hispanic with very light skin & I have it!! Got it after my 2 pregnancies.. It sucks.. been using sunscreen every day, alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid!! It gets lighter then goes back to dark again

With each of my pregnancies my top lip got a dark rim around it, it looked like the weird brown lip liner that people used in the 90s. Not a cute look.

Please review the new Neutrogena “stubborn acne” and “stubborn marks” products!😊

Happy Thursday Dr Dray..see you tomorrow x💙🤩🎃

This struggle is real. I have upper lip and the corners and I am trying azeliac acid and alpha arbutin to try to lessen it for the last few months, too early but here is hoping!

For the first two recommendations, can we use it on the actual upper lip (not the area above it)? Thanks.

Happy Thursday thank you for tip's

I’m an avid coffee drinker never thought about that 🤷🏼‍♀️

Greetings Dr. Dray hope u r well n 🖐Hello Every1 n Happy Thursday😀 n what a Wonderful Vid.... thanks n as usual these r Useful Tips on Fading Dark Spots on your Upper Lips.... Really Appreciated👍n Continued Blessings to All💜.....

Hi Dray, loved the video! Would you recommend these products for hyperpigmentation around the nipples and on the bikini area as well?

Thank you Dr Dray🤗🤗🤗

Thank you for this video! Can you recommend any products that aren’t packaged in plastic?

Do you think that the heat from breathing under our masks could also affect hyperpigmentation or melasma?

You're telling me tumeric causes hyperpigmentation?? I apply a tumeric/ honey face mask weekly! 😩

What kind of prescription medication would you recommend?

So helpful. Thanks!

I have green upper lip after hair removal, I have it on my eyebrows as well where I remove hair 😮‍💨

Turmeric is actually a skin brightner.

So smart you are thank you . I thought I was on top of this

I started getting hypopigmentation on my upper lip. Especially when I’m working out, the rest of my face is red and flushed but my upper lip stays pale so it looks like I have a white mustache haha. I’m starting to feel self conscious about it now :( I haven’t been able to find any remedies for this.

dr dray what u think about hair laser removal on upper lip? will it make darken the skin? thanks

Great information, thank you as always, Dr. Dray! But, what about hypopigmentation? I have it after the treatment for hyperpigmentation, and now I have hyper and hypo, please, would you know if there's something that might help me with this?

I need to wear makeup to conceal a very light upper lip area . I can’t figure out why.Just the opposite of what most people have. I’d love to be able to go with out makeup. I’m kinda liking having to wear the mask!! Lol

have an awesome Thursday

Happy Thursday Dr Dray and everyone 😀 wonderful video I don't have upper lip darkness but I have just started using Paula's choice azaleic acid on my acne marks 😀 I am surprised how gentle it is Have a fabulous day love to mom and Tybee 🥰🥰🥰💙

I really love my natural lip liner shade I wouldn’t change it for anything

I'm on my first of six weeks of hydroquinone and kojic acid prescribed by my dermatologist? I really hope it works bc I really hate it😭

Thanks Doctor 🥰 It helps me lot. ❤

I needed this video! Thank you!!

Thought I was the only one with this problem 😅

Exactly what I needed