Lip scar from cold sore? HELP!

[Toya1621]

I'm african american. My lips are brown. I got my first cold sore in October and the scab peeled off from a bandaid and the area healed and it's flat and smooth but now that part of my lip looks red like it's missing skin but it's not so it doesn't look right. It's just missing color. Will the color ever come back and how can I darken the area? It's so embarrassing i don't know what to do :(

[Toya1621]

But the color is lighter than the rest of my lip. My lip is dark brown. That area is light red/pink. I need to make it darker

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It looks like post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a condition where there is an excess amount of pigment following a disease process that affects the skin.  Without treatment, this usually takes about 6 months to resolve and for the skin color to go back to its normal color.  Topical treatments with acids and chemical peels can be effective but can take a while for the skin to totally revert to its normal color.  Microdermabrasion can also be done, but this might require several sessions.  Skin resurfacing using lasers is also an option.  
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.