Stain on the upper lip: get rid of it –

As if living with a stain on your upper lip wasn’t punishment enough, sunbathing can make the mark even worse. But calm down, you don’t have to be locked between four walls! Follow our guide, enjoy the sun without guilt and without running the risk of the stain appearing (or darkening, if it’s already there).

Learn more about the stain on the upper lip

I don’t know how old you are. But I, who already passed 30, usually joke that after that age the skin rebels and, instead of getting tanned, ends up all stained when I’m in the sun. The painting only gets worse when a stain has already settled on the face. We’re talking about melasma, a brown-toned mark that mainly darkens the upper lip (but can also appear on the cheekbones) of an increasingly significant number of women.

“Although the use of contraceptive hormones and pregnancy are factors that contribute to the appearance of melasma, intense sun exposure is undoubtedly the biggest trigger for the appearance or worsening of the problem”, says Adilson Costa, dermatologist from São Paulo.

“There are studies that point to a worsening of up to 50% with sun exposure”, adds Flávia Addor, a dermatologist also from São Paulo. Therefore, protecting yourself from the sun (and not running away from it) is your weapon. Here are ten recommendations – from choosing the right sunscreen for those with blemishes to oral supplements that fight sun damage – so you don’t suffer from the consequences of summer!

10 tips to get rid of stains

1. On the face, it’s law: FPS below 30 never! Despite the fact that a factor of 60 does not protect twice as much as a factor of 30 (protection only increases by a few percentage points), dermatologists believe that it is indeed worth resorting to a high SPF. That’s because we didn’t pass the recommended amount or reapply it the way we should, as is done in laboratory control.

two. The chosen product also needs to have action against UVA rays, the radiation responsible for aging and, consequently, for the appearance of spots. Check on the packaging.

3. Antioxidant actives added to the solar filter also help. This is the case of soy, green tea, vitamin E, coffeeberry and the extract of the Polytomas leucotomas plant. “These are substances that reduce the harmful effects of the sun, either because of their anti-inflammatory effect or because they fight free radicals”, explains Adilson Costa. Also check for this benefit on the packaging.

4. Choose a foundation-toned protector. “It has been proven that the color filter protects better against visible light, a type of radiation from the sun and from artificial sources, such as the computer monitor, which worsens the stain”, says Flávia Addor. In addition, the tonality still disguises the problem

5. Use a powder or foundation over the sunscreen. Some already come with FPS. They also work as a physical barrier against UVA, UVB and visible light and camouflage the stain if you opted for a colorless protector.

6. Reapply the protector every hour, especially on the upper lip. “We sweat more in this area. We can also remove the product by passing the tongue over the lips, drinking water or eating something”, recalls Flávia Addor. And that doesn’t just apply when you’re at the beach, but also at the park and even at the office. Get smart!

7. Make the hat another ally against the sun’s rays. “Products with SPF block much of the radiation, but the little they don’t protect – something around 5% in the highest factors – is enough to darken melasma”, says Adilson Costa. Instead of a hat, which has a short brim, opt for a larger model (with a circular brim) to shade your chin – safe and chic!

8. Make use of oral protectors, dietary supplements that complement the action of creams. “These are capsules with an antioxidant action that protect cells from the sun’s rays, reducing the production of melanin, the pigment that causes spots,” explains Roberta Bibas, a dermatologist in Rio de Janeiro. There are already ready-made products, such as Tan Optimizer, by Imedeen, and Fermeté, by Innéov. They combine substances that act in favor of the skin in general, improving wrinkles, firmness and blemishes. It is also possible to manipulate a custom tablet. Roberta suggests taking 25 milligrams of pycnogenol, the extract of a plant, three times a day.

9. There are also supplements to lighten spots. Not only do they help to prevent the problem, but they also work as good cosmetic adjuvants, as they are powerful depigmentants. “This is the case with omegas 3 and 6 and ellagic acid extract, extracted from pomegranate”, says Adilson Costa. These substances can also be manipulated in the form of a tablet.

10. Shave your mustache five days before sunbathing. Any method that pulls the hair out at the root (hot wax, cold wax, and thread) will irritate the area. And despite having no apparent injury, there may be inflammation. Thus, the skin is more predisposed to stain. Some women benefit from depilatory face creams. Give it a try, but do the sensitivity test first.