The color of the lips, and indeed the color of an individual's skin are determined by factors associated with genetics. There is a pigment called melanin found in the skin. This pigment determines the color of the skin based on its concentration. The color of this skin cannot be changed using any natural method known to man. There are some experimental medical procedures, but these are far too complicated for consideration.
The skin is made up of many layers and tends to have a different texture depending on the area of the body that it covers. Skin on the soles of the feet, for example, tends to be hard and thick whereas skin on the face tends to be softer. The lips are a particularly interesting part of the body when it comes to skin texture. The lips are used for many important functions that include areas of speech and also for food and fluid consumption. The color of the lips tends to be a reddish version of the skin color of an individual. Therefore, light skinned individuals tend to have pinkish lips whereas dark skinned individuals may have dark brown or dark red lips.
Skin discolorations may occur due to a number of reasons. The skin is susceptible to tanning and this could cause it to turn darker than normal. Individuals with poor hygiene standards may suffer from skin that is damaged or discolored as a result of certain skin conditions. There are numerous different conditions that can affect the skin such as fungal and bacterial infections. All of these have an effect on the color of the skin in the area where the infection has occurred.
An individual who experience their lips turning white may have one of the following problems. The most common conditions that can be classified as white lips causes are anemia, hypoxia, heart trouble, lung trouble, thyroid function problems, localized fungal infection or dry skin. Among these white lips causes, dry lips actually only causes the skin on the lips to appear dull. When flakes of skin form, they may appear white before the fall off. The skin under the flakes, however, should be bright red as it is the under layer of skin that has been exposed. Dry lips are related to many possible conditions. Chapped lips causes include environmental factors such as low humidity and non environmental factors such as hydration levels of the individual. Some people also tend to be more susceptible to developing problems associated with dry skin. Such people could find dry lips cure with the use of moisturizing products on the areas where they suffer from dry skin problems. Chapped lips causes related to the environment need to be dealt with in the same way. During certain times of the year, an individual may experience low atmospheric humidity. In this condition, the skin may chapped or may crack easily.
A fungal infection may be one of the white lips causes. However, fungal infections usually occur in patches or in groups on the skin. It is highly unlikely that a fungal infection will be so widespread that it can cover the entire area of the lips. In such a situation, the individual may not immediately even notice the condition for many weeks before it has covered the whole surface area of the lips. White patches on the lips are a sign of an infection or of a condition that has caused boils to develop. Under both circumstances, an individual should visit a dermatologist for a consultation on the problem. Fungal infections may be picked up from other individuals or may be a result of poor hygiene. Whatever the cause, the treatment for fungal infections is usually based on the use of topical creams and ointments. Often, one may have some oral medication as well to protect the body from problems associated with the skin infection. White lips from dehydration is another concern as lack of water in the body could lead to illnesses that could cause whit lips as a symptom.
Anemia is a leading cause of paleness in the skin. Anemia is a condition where the amount of red blood cells is diminished. This leads to a diminished capacity of the blood to deliver oxygen to the cells of the body. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. There are other forms of this condition also. Anemia is listed under white lips causes but it is not strictly a cause for this condition. The color of the lips tends to be pale in an individual who is suffering from anemia. Many people may refer to the condition as white lips which is why this classification is made. Anemia also causes general paleness of the skin, paleness under the eyelids, fatigue, low concentration levels and general malaise. An individual who has a sudden change in the complexion of the skin to a pale color may be suffering from some sort of medical condition. Therefore, it is advisable to visit a doctor under such circumstances.
The heart and lungs work in conjunction to pass oxygenated blood around the body. Blood is red in color and is responsible for adding the reddish hue to the skin color, especially to lighter skin shades. When there is a problem with either of these vital organ systems, the individual may be in a situation where the lips turn pale. The skin may also turn pale at the same time as the supply of blood to the body is curtailed. In some cases, this may happen gradually and may be noticed by mild symptoms of fatigue and cognitive difficulty. However, this may also happen as a result of a sudden medical event like a heart attack. In the case of the gradual onset of white lips symptoms, the individual may not realize that there is a health problem immediately. However, this is a sign of some serious medical condition which needs to be presented to a doctor immediately for analysis. The varied white lips causes make it difficult for a diagnosis to be made solely based on this symptom. Whatever be the cause of the lips losing their color, there will always be some associated symptoms.
answered by G M