Dark growing maeks on my lips.

I am an Africa America lady with several dark spreading marks on my lips.  At first I only noticed one small mark on my bottom lip. Now I have three small dark marks , and a large mark on my lips.  I don't know what this could be? The marks are not causing any discomfort at all.  I wouldn,t even know the marks were on my lips, if I didn't look in the mirror. Could this be some kind of fungus bacteria, or cancer?  How can I treat this?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

No--not fungus, bacteria, or cancer.  Most likely, this is hyperpigmenation.  Medical name: chloasma.  Common name: "mask of pregnancy."  Trouble is, most people who have it aren't pregnant and don't have any hormone changes.

Tretament is fairly straighforward.  Most doctors use combinations of hydroquinone and Retin-A.  Ask your dermatologist for diagnosis and treamtnet.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff