Thread by @Sports_Doctor2, "Why have you decided to ruin your life?" was the reply I [...]

"Why have you decided to ruin your life?" was the reply I got from my neighbor, Papa Ebube when I greeted him.

I was shocked, what do you mean sir?, I asked.

He ignored and turned to little Ebube, saying "don't be like this uncle you hear" and I almost lost it!

#OdogwuTales

He turned to me and said "You smoke too much", as I was about to reply him, he said, "See how black your lips are".

Sir that's how my lips are, I've never smoked in my life before, I replied again.

He carried his little girl and repeated the warning, "Don't Be Like This Uncle!"

This Uncle is a medical doctor in his 20's who was awaiting his induction (Nobody knew this because i wanted to mingle with the market people).

This Uncle just opened a betting shop that was later burgled and everything was stolen.

I hope little Ebube does better than her dad!

I've never smoked before, so what now caused my "DARK LIPS"

First Of ALL, INTRODUCTION

The skin of the lips is different from the rest of the body because it is thinner and more delicate.

The skin of the face has up to 16cell layers but that of the lips is 3-5 cell layers.

The small layer of cells on the lips allows the color of the underlying blood vessels to show.

Blood vessels can change color depending on the level of oxygen in the blood. Example:

1. Blood rich in oxygen is "Bright Red"
2. Blood with low oxygen is "Dark Red/Purple"

3. Blood without enough oxygen is "Blue"
4. When there are low blood volume in the body, the blood vessels appear "White"

And due to how thin the layer on the lips are,you can visibly see these colors and more on the lips.

And the color of the skin affects the color of the lips

DIFFERENT LIP COLORS, MEANING AND CAUSES

• BLUE LIPS
- In medicine "Blue Lips" is called CYANOSIS meaning the person does not have enough oxygen in their blood.

The blue color can also be noted on the tip of your fingers and toes along with the lips.

- Causes:
1. Choking

2. Lung diseases such as asthma, pneumonia
3. Heart failure
4. Shock from blood loss
5. Blood poisoning from insecticides
6. Extreme cold temperatures

It's an emergency especially since we don't have very cold weather in Nigeria.

• WHITE LIPS
- It's always associated with lameness on the face, lining of the eyes, inside the mouth and fingers

- It's normally caused by ANAEMIA which is low red blood cell count and also requires medical attention

- Causes:
1. Heavy blood loss be from accidents,heavy flow

2. Internal bleeding
3. Diet low in iron, folate
4. Low blood sugar
5. Circulatory problems
6. Chronic diseases
7. Frost bite in very cold regions.

• BLACK LIPS
- This is known as the "hyperpigmentation" of the lips. It simply means there are excess melanin on the lips.

Melanin is the cell that gives black people their dark skin. So an excess of it causes black/dark lips.

- Causes:
1. Excessive exposure to the sun
2. Lack of hydration
3. Smoking
4. Allergic reaction to lipstick and toothpaste
5. Too much caffeine
6. Lip sucking as a kid

7. Chemotherapy
8. Vitamin deficiency

Smoking can cause dark lips but it doesn't mean that everyone with dark lips is a smoker.

One thing that can make one have pink lips is traveling outside Nigeria...look at @wakawaka_doctor and @ojayfemi

It's been tried and tested!!!

I didn't get to educate my neighbor in the market place and the picture he took of me was that of a smoker, so let me educate you guys my neighbor on this street.

Do not be in a haste to judge people based on assumptions you're not sure of, Be Slow To Judge!

Stop Profiling!!!