Advertising on our site helps support our mission. If you're seeking a preventive, we've gathered a few of the best stretch mark creams for pregnancy. Use sunscreen Using sunscreen is one of the best ways to ward off the harmful effects of sun exposure. Yes, but use cosmetics that include sunscreen and pay attention to any that may aggravate your melasma by irritating your skin. If you didnt see it in pictures or a mirror, you wouldnt even know you had itit doesnt itch, hurt, or cause any other sensation. This means that its long-lasting (three months or more). The hormonal and physiologic changes during pregnancy are unique in the life of women. Wondering what skin care products are safe and which to avoid while pregnant? Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/27/2020. Your healthcare provider might test your vitamin D levels to make sure that youre getting enough of it from high vitamin D foods such as meat, cereals, oily fish and eggs. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. Your dermatologist may recommend one or more of the following: Hydroquinone, corticosteroids, and tretinoin (Retin-A) are just a few of the many options used to treat melasma. And, if youre pregnant, its appearance may improve on its own around three months after your baby arrives and your surge in pregnancy hormones stabilizes. However, you can take certain precautions to lower your risk of developing it while pregnant or otherwise. Can i use 2% hydro quinine during pregnancy for melasma. It usually starts between 20 and 40 years of age. (This can occur whether or not you choose to breastfeed, because estrogen and progesterone are not the hormones involved in lactationthose would be prolactin and oxytocin.). Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD is a board certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon specializing in the practice of both cosmetic and medical dermatology. If you do opt for treatment for your pregnancy melasma, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe a topical skin-lightening cream, with pregnancy-safe ingredients, like hydroquinone. The following are common melasma triggers: In addition to the above, genetics play a crucial role. Light-based procedures like intense pulsed light, non-ablative fractionated lasers and low fluence Q-switched lasers. It usually develops in one or more of these areas: 6 Cheeks (both sides) Chin Forehead Bridge of nose Above the upper lip Jawline Melasma can also develop on your arms or neck, though it's less common. Careful sun protection is key. You can help make your sun protection efforts even more effective if you wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, a hat, and sunglasses, and limit your time in the sun, especially between its peak hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Melasma is also sometimes referred to as the mask of pregnancy because the splotches typically show up around your upper lip, nose, cheekbones, and forehead in the shape of a mask. Melasma is more common in people with medium to darker skin and seems to run in families. Face washes, lotions, and serums that irritate your skin may make melasma worse. Melasma is a skin condition characterized by brown or blue-gray patches or freckle-like spots. Is it sunlight? Stay out of the sun when the rays are strongest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. And make a fashion statement by sporting glam sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when you leave the house. Your soap? They can appear anywhere on the body but are most common on the stomach, hips, breasts, and thighs. Its not painful, itchy, or uncomfortable in any way. Primary symptoms include darkening patches of skin on the face, especially around the forehead, cheekbones, nose and upper lip. There are three main methods of treatment for melasma: 1) Slowing down or stopping the creation of the pigment melanin. Changes in skin pigmentation due to melasma usually disappear on their own after delivery. Theyre also commonly mistaken for freckles or age spots, however, those tend to be smaller. Hormonal changes: The extra estrogen and progesterone your body makes during pregnancy can trigger melasma. That said, there are skin cancers that look similar to melasma, so its important to see your dermatologist to get a definitive diagnosis. Look on the label for words like noncomedogenic, sensitive, fragrance-free, or dermatologist approved if you get overwhelmed in the beauty aisle. Ultraviolet and infrared radiation from the sun are key in making melasma worse. Make a mask with cooked oatmeal and honey, leave it on skin for about 10 min and wash it. Melasma during pregnancy is a skin condition in which melanocytes, the skin cells that produce melanin, produce more pigment than usual. Always be on the lookout for any allergic reactions. And some treatment methods may not be safe or effective to use when pregnant. Utilization of Laser Therapy During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Maternal and Fetal Effects Reported From 1960 to 2017. They are generally tan or brownish in color, but can look blue-gray on people with naturally darker skin color. Melasma can occur at any point in a pregnancy, although it typically develops during the second or third trimester. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Dr. Nazarian shares that she prefers a multipronged approach to treating pregnancy melasma. Chloasma is a cosmetic concern. Chemical peels and lasers may cause the surface layers of skin to die, cause post-procedure hyperpigmentation, and cause hypertrophic scars. These areas may get darker the more youre exposed to the sun or the further along you are in your pregnancy. Melanin in the basal and suprabasal keratinocytes. In addition, melasma can make skin that is already darker even more so. If you have melasma, your freckles and moles may also look darker, there's probably a dark line down the center of your abdomen (the linea nigra) and your areolas could be a deeper shade. It is supremely sensitive to the sun, worsening with relatively minimal exposure, cautions Dr. Belkin. The three types are: Melasma is not cancerous, a sign of cancer, or a skin condition that turns into cancer. Use the treatment and management advice from your dermatologist or another healthcare provider. When your skin heals from the treatment, it may cause even more discoloration. Skin care products that irritate your skin. Melasma is harmless, physically, but can have an emotional impact. Were explaining why this occurs, below. It can be frustrating to deal with changes to your skin during pregnancy. Treatments for melasma include topical creams, chemical peels, as well as gentle skin resurfacing procedures. Report all side effects to your healthcare provider. Another option for sun cover is clothing with or without UV protection, such as SPF rash guards or sun protective clothing. Pregnancy melasma, also known as a pregnancy mask, is an extremely common condition that causes skin hyperpigmentation (i.e. It usually starts between 20 and 40 years of age. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Typically it takes about three or more months for the melasma to fade. It often presents as a darkening in skin color around the mid or upper forehead, lateral cheeks, and upper lip. There are several topical, procedural, and oral therapies to manage melasma during pregnancy. Between 50% to 70% of all melasma cases are among those who are pregnant. American Academy of Family Physicians. Pregnancy woes: 4 common skin issues Melasma, or chloasma, as it's called during pregnancy, appears mostly on the face, on sun-exposed areas like your cheeks, nose, upper lip and forehead, says Raymond. Does pregnancy melanoma go away on its own? ; Telogen effluvium post-delivery is a compensatory decease in hair growth and shedding of hair. Not all laser therapies are ideal for treating discoloration. There are also some procedures including chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser treatments, and other light therapies that may work. Melasma typically darkens and lightens over time, often getting worse in the summer and better in the winter. Too much screen time? Find advice, support and good company (and some stuff just for fun). Melasma. It is not visible under blacklight and is much more challenging to treat. Is there a specific sunscreen you recommend? These steps may prevent your melasma from getting worse. Is Any Acne Treatment Safe to Use During Pregnancy? Melasma sometimes resolves itself one hormonal balance is restored. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. To tell the difference between skin conditions, your healthcare provider may perform a biopsy, which is where a small piece of your skin is removed and examined. What Helps With Melasma During Pregnancy? And ask your doctor about any potential vitamin deficiencies. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()). You might have your thyroid checked because there does seem to be an association between thyroid disease and melasma. Birth control pills, pregnancy, and hormone therapy can all help trigger melasma. When this increases the amount of melanin produced also increases creating patches of darkened skin. Mix a solution of a half of fresh lemon juice and half of cucumber juice or water to lighten top . Ask your healthcare provider if youre concerned about another condition. When did see the discoloration in your skin? Melasma can be managed, but often not entirely cured, in the sense that in someone who is predisposed, it can always come back. Why Does Pregnancy Make My Lips and Skin So Dry? There are also other tactics you can try. Although this disorder is completely harmless, it understandably makes some people feel self-conscious. It might be appropriate for you to use a different medication to avoid the side effects. What medications and/or vitamins can I take to help heal my melasma? If concealer causes other problems for example, if youve got oily or sensitive skin turn to pressed powder to lighten the spots. There are dermatologists who can help you. Our. That said, prescribing instructions note that it should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Melasma is a highly common skin conditionand the majority of cases are among pregnant people. It largely affects people who were assigned female at birtha whopping 90% of them 1 during their reproductive years, when they're 20 to 40 years old. If your skin is still blotchy a few months after giving birth and it's bothering you, talk to your healthcare provider or a dermatologist about treatment options for melasma. Barsh G. What Controls Variation in Skin Color? You may see a line (linea nigra) extending from the pubic area over the belly, or darkening of the skin all over the body. The heart has to work harder during pregnancy to pump blood to both the mother and the growing fetus. Depending on the person, melasma may go away on its own, it may be permanent, or it may respond to treatment within a few months. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Pregnancy. Skin Conditions During Pregnancy | ACOG Skin Conditions During Pregnancy Frequently Asked Questions Common Skin Changes Expand All What are some of the common skin changes that happen during pregnancy? It also helps regulate your body temperature, prevent hydration and feel sensations like the warmth of the stove, the fur on your dogs belly and the pressure of someone elses hand holding yours. Read our, Why Does Melasma Develop During Pregnancy. Despite the fact that pregnancy melasma isnt a dangerous condition, it can do a number on your self-esteem and confidence. The #1 app for tracking pregnancy and baby growth. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Only a dermatologist will be able to tell you for sure if you have pregnancy melasma. If the skin changes are bothersome, consider another birth control option. Women with darker complexions are more likely to have melasma than women with lighter skin. Medications that may cause or worsen melasma. They can be safely used with topical medications, but only by specialists who have experience treating melasma. Most cases of melasma will fade away with time and especially with good protection from sunlight and other sources of light. Basit H, Godse KV, Al Aboud, AM. Products that irritate the skin can make melasma worse. Your birth control? It usually goes away after you give birth. There are three types of melasma, categorized by how deep the darker pigment goes into the skin: During pregnancy, melasma usually appears on the face as patchy or spotted areas of skin that are tan, brown, or sometimes blue-gray. This also tends to happen in areas where friction is common, such as your underarms and inner thighs. Melasma is especially common in darker-skinned women or those of Asian and African descent, who have more pigment in their skin than fair-skinned people. Spots of melasma can sometimes be mistaken for freckles but they are not the same skin condition. Learn about special offers, current clinical research studies, and more. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. It is not cancerous and does not become cancerous, nor does it have any effect on your pregnancy. Many women notice their hair becomes thicker during pregnancy. By Nancy LeBrun Hormone treatments, specifically ones that involve estrogen. But, keep in mind, once you experience this patchwork discoloration, youre more susceptible to it recurring if you become pregnant again. In fact, melasma can affect any part of your skin that is exposed to sunlight. Therefore, wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days. As youve likely already inferred from its alternate moniker, becoming pregnant puts you at a higher risk of developing pregnancy melasma. Pregnancy melasma is a pretty straightforward skin condition. 2011;57(6):665-667. Trivedi MK, Yang FC, Cho BK. Some experts dont recommend treating melasma during pregnancy. Plus, you cant change your genetics. Freckles or scars, and dark skin around nipples and genitals may become even darker than usual during pregnancy. 2015;4:13240-13247. Melasma can be managed, but often not entirely cured, in the sense that in someone who is predisposed, it can always come back, Dr. Belkin cautions. Its impossible to prevent melasma with certainty, but there are ways to reduce your risk or minimize the appearance of your melasma. As mentioned, pregnancy melasma is a skin condition thats pervasive among pregnant people. People with more pigment in their skin for example, those of African, North African, Middle Eastern, Latin or Hispanic, Asian, Indian, or Mediterranean descent are more likely to develop chloasma, as they naturally have more active melanin production. Stretch marks are easier to prevent than erase. 6.3 Paula's Choice facial exfoliant. Dealing with melasma during pregnancy can be a challenge, but it's not impossible. PLoS Biol. Bolanca I, et al. Melasma (chloasma or mask of pregnancy) may be the most cosmetically troublesome skin condition associated with pregnancy ( Figure 2). Melasma is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy because it frequently affects pregnant women. Melasma is so frequent in pregnant people that it's sometimes called the "mask of pregnancy." Sometimes the patches can become red or inflamed. Exactly How to Treat the Skin Discoloration. Hyperovulation has few symptoms, if any. Vitamin C is used in skin care as a strong antioxidant, especially in regard to protecting the skin from sun damage. Chemical peels address discoloration by exfoliating the top layers of skin, allowing newer and more evenly toned skin cells to rise to the surface. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. U.S. National Library of Medicine. In the third trimester, the proportion of hair follicles retained in the anagen (growing) phase increases. What about the face? In what stage of pregnancy does melasma occur? Melasma: causes. Many compacts come in a wide range of colors for all skin tones. Dermal melasma is light brown or bluish, with blurred borders. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Most people with melasma have a history of daily or intermittent sun exposure, although heat is also suspected to be an underlying factor. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. Beyond that, the dark patches on the face can be exacerbated by sun exposure, the use of certain skin care products or treatments, and even genetics. If youve noticed new, dark skin splotches on your face, youve probably got melasma which is often called the mask of pregnancy. But youre not alone this condition affects an estimated 50 to 75 percent of expectant mothers. Milk, almond milk, and orange juice can help too. Ahead, were discussing everything you need to know about pregnancy melasma, including what it is, what causes it, and how you can both treat and help prevent it. What causes these skin changes during pregnancy? There are preventative measures you can take. The best course of treatment may actually be prevention, with the help of a few lifestyle changes. The worse it gets, the harder it will be for treatments to work. "Hydroquinone does not get absorbed systemically". If you have dark skin, seek a provider who is experienced in laser treatment for people of color. Discover what they are here. However, to keep your skin healthy in general, try a skin-healthy diet of foods rich in Vitamin D: Those with melasma are more likely to have a thyroid disease. 1. It's typically diagnosed after an individual develops multiple pregnancies at once. Look for products that say fragrance-free, for sensitive skin, or non-comedogenic on the label. It fades slowly, so it could take a few months. Heat can trigger melasma by causing the blood vessels in the skin to dilate and send signals to create pigmentation. UV light exposure only makes hyperpigmentation worse by further darkening skin. Safety of skin care products during pregnancy, Utilization of Laser Therapy During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Maternal and Fetal Effects Reported From 1960 to 2017, Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun. In pregnancy, it's often referred to as chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy.". Melasma is a common skin disorder. Unfortunately, there is no definitive treatment that will automatically make melasma disappear. 2014;89:771-782. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20143063. Melasma that arises during pregnancy may go away on its own, but it wont happen overnight. Pain, itchiness, or soreness are not symptoms of melasma. Ask them questions and voice your concerns. However, there are skin cancers that may mimic melasma, so seeing your dermatologist is often recommended to confirm the correct diagnosis. The primary symptom of chloasma is darkening of the skin on the face. Epidermal melasma resides in the surface of the skin. Take preventative steps like avoiding sunlight to keep your melasma from getting worse or, if it does fade away, to keep it from coming back.