It's AumSum Time.
Why does Smoking cause Dark Lips?
Coz cigarettes contain black lipsticks.
Nooo!!
Our skin contains melanocytes which produce a pigment called melanin.
Melanin gives our skin its color and also absorbs the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
Thus protecting us from skin-related diseases.
Now, when we smoke.
We inhale and exhale harmful chemicals like nicotine and benzopyrenes.
Especially from our mouth.
So, experts believe that perhaps as a protective mechanism.
Our melanocytes produce more melanin in our lips, gums, etc.
To protect us from the harmful effects of these chemicals.
This leads to hyperpigmentation, thus causing our lips to turn into a darker shade.
Also, while smoking, as we repeatedly purse or pucker our lips to inhale the smoke.
It eventually creates wrinkles on our lips.
These wrinkles accompanied by dark lips are referred to as smoker's lips.