Dark hue around daughters mouth

[Imjustme1985]

Hi please help my 2.5 year old has a dark hue around her mouth and it won't go away.

I am worried she will be bullied as a result when she is older.

Anyone else expeirenced this how can we resolve the pigmentation for good?

Thanka

Is she repeatedly licking her lips? Might it be chapped?

Could it be sore from licking round her lips?

If that is her nose running in the picture, it is a good idea to
keep her nose and lips dry, as she probably has chapping.

No I don't think it is chapped skin.

The skin is a different colour.

This area can be quite wet for toddlers, with licking lips and runny noses. It can cause skin inflammation and chapping. Try to keep it dry, but also moisturise in the morning and at night with creams made for toddlers.

She has dark skin, I have similar coloured skin and when it’s chapped or sore or cut the marks are darker as they heal.

My mum was white and if she got chapped lips they were red. If I got them they were slightly darker brown.

Ok I am not referring to her lips though more the skin around and above her upper lip...

Sorry if you are taking offence. My daughters skin is discoloured around the mouth it is pigmentation and has not always been like this. I want to resolve this.

Do an experiment op. For the next three days lick your lips and the skin surrounding them every 10-20 minutes whilst you are awake.

Come back and tell us if there has been a change to the colour of your skin.

That's what my lips looked like, I used to suck my fingers, and lick my lips a lot.

No need for this.

She’s 2 and a half with a lot of growing and changing to do. Do not try to change her skin tone, you may cause permanent harm. Consider your username and let your daughter be just her.

Yes and PPs have told you what the issue is and how to prevent it…

Looks like lip lick dermatitis.

Thank you. My daughter still has a dummy now and then maybe it is related.

Give her nose a wipe and keep her mouth free from dribbles and she'll be fine.

@Imjustme1985 I'm sorry you're getting these responses. Personally I think there's racism going on here.

As for your DD, don't worry too much. It will probably change as she gets older but it might be worth a trip to the gp if it's still line that in a few months. If nothing else, they can tell you the safest way to address it, if they feel it's nothing medical and simply pigmentation. 🌼

Yes licking round her lips - chapping. Mine got that. Right bugger to get them to stop doing it. It's sore, licking it gives them temporary relief, hard to explain that's actually the problem.

If it has always been there then just mention it at the next contact with healthcare.

If it just appeared gradually/suddenly then you need to chat it over with GP.

Really don't worry at 2.5, about bullying. Just worry about health. My Son was born with full on birth marks that disappeared gradually over about 6 years. :)

I have people leaving unhelpful and sarcastic comments.

Keep your comments to yourself in future

And no I don't want to change my daughter skin colour!! I have dark skin myself.

I agree it is probably dryness from rubbing or licking - my kids (light skinned) tended to get similar when little. I'm sure it's nothing permanent and she won't get teased for it - suggest you speak to GP to check what it is and best way to treat.

I don't see any racism here? I have literally just read all the post and nothing in them indicates racism in the slightest.

Regarding your daughters dark skin around her mouth, to me it's barely noticeable, but if it's worrying you, maybe a quick trip to the Drs? Sometimes darker skin can be a little patchy and darker in some areas more than others. My bet is it will resolve itself as she grows. As others have said, it could also be healing from being slightly sore from a runny nose or licking the area causing dryness and making it appear a shade darker.

Google ‘lip licker’s dermatitis’ and you can see what people mean.