Your skin color and type may make this condition more or less noticeable. Face washes, lotions, and serums that irritate your skin may make melasma worse. Most cases of melasma will fade away with time and especially with good protection from sunlight and other sources of light. One reason is that it may resolve on its own. And make sure youre getting the right treatment by confirming the diagnosis with your healthcare provider. If you're seeking a preventive, we've gathered a few of the best stretch mark creams for pregnancy. By Nancy LeBrun Some experts dont recommend treating melasma during pregnancy. (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.). It is very likely that if you were going to get Melasma at the time of . Azelaic cream, lotion, or gel can sting. Vitamin D helps keep your skin healthy in general. PMID: 30998530. Chloasma: The mask of pregnancy. For some women, contraceptives containing estrogen (such as the Pill, the patch, and the vaginal ring) can also contribute to melasma. 15% to 50% of pregnant women get it. After all, as it progresses, it gets more difficult to treat. Consuming turmeric in pregnancy is a debated subject. Pain, itchiness, or soreness are not symptoms of melasma. 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. When Might Melasma Develop During Pregnancy? What about the face? You can live melasma-free with the right combination of treatments. 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. Can i use 2% hydro quinine during pregnancy for melasma. During pregnancy or while youre breastfeeding, you should also avoid at-home peels, bleaches or other chemical-based lightening treatments, since they can all potentially penetrate the skin. Non-pregnancy related hormonal changes like oral contraceptives may also cause skin hyperpigmentation. She has authored a book about documentary filmmaking, a screenplay about a lost civil rights hero, and ghostwritten several memoirs. To start treatment, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible when you see signs of melasma. Birth control, specifically oral contraceptive pills that contain estrogen and progesterone. They can be safely used with topical medications, but only by specialists who have experience treating melasma. Choose a corrective foundation and concealer that are non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and designed to cover hyperpigmentation. Is there a history of melasma in your family? 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?id=169&itemtype=document), (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/pigment-disorders/melasma#:~:text=Melasma%20is%20dark%20brown%20patches,an%20examination%20of%20the%20skin. Wondering what skin care products are safe and which to avoid while pregnant? Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Verywell Family's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Your skin is your barricade. It often presents as a darkening in skin color around the mid or upper forehead, lateral cheeks, and upper lip. Melasma is common during pregnancy, as it is believed to be caused by increased levels of oestrogen in the blood. Be sure that youre rounding out your diet by consuming supplemental omega-3 fatty acids. But, it has to be gentle enough and done by an experienced board-certified dermatologist. This is because lasers can also exacerbate melasma, he explains. Pregnancy: An increase in the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which occurs during pregnancy, is thought to trigger melasma. Ultraviolet and infrared radiation from the sun are key in making melasma worse. It largely affects people who were assigned female at birtha whopping 90% of themduring their reproductive years, when theyre 20 to 40 years old. The three types are: Melasma is not cancerous, a sign of cancer, or a skin condition that turns into cancer. Are the soaps Im using right now aggravating my melasma (come with a list if you need to)? It sometimes affects your arms, neck and back. It usually develops in one or more of these areas: Cheeks . Melasma can return. Chemical peels address discoloration by exfoliating the top layers of skin, allowing newer and more evenly toned skin cells to rise to the surface. If it doesnt, pursue treatment options with your healthcare provider. Bring up any additional symptoms you have with your doctor. Chioma Ndubisi, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who specializes in sexual and reproductive health in New York, New York. Are you interested in procedures that may improve your melasma? Melasma During Pregnancy: Causes and Treatment. The hormonal and physiologic changes during pregnancy are unique in the life of women. 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. If other treatments haven't helped, a dermatologist can lighten dark spots with laser treatments, but that's not the first option. What Are Some Ways To Help Cope With Pregnancy Melasma? If you feel that its negatively impacting your life, or you have any other concerns, try not to suffer in silence. Adding a skin condition like melasma to the mix can be frustrating, especially if it's making you self-conscious about your appearance. The second path to take is topical medications. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Even if its hot outside, loose-fitting clothing can be comfortable and protect your skin. "Hydroquinone at 2-4% works miracles for women with a pregnancy mask," Dr. Zenovia shares. This skin disorder can affect your social life if youre feeling self-conscious about it. But, keep in mind, once you experience this patchwork discoloration, youre more susceptible to it recurring if you become pregnant again. Do I have melasma or another type of skin disorder? 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. But, melasma patches are almost always larger than what we call age spots, sun spots, or liver spots. Changes in skin pigmentation due to melasma usually disappear on their own after delivery. Fortunately, chloasma generally fades within a few months after giving birth. Since the sun may trigger the development of more pigment, its a good idea to stay out of its rays, especially for long periods of time. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. Solar elastosis and elastic fiber fragmentation. Melasma is typically a chronic disorder. Spontaneous recovery back to pre-pregnancy levels usually occurs within 6-12 months. Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing. Very common lumps found among women during pregnancy are clogged milk ducts. If you take preventative measures and follow any treatments recommended by your healthcare provider, your melasma might disappear. 1st ed. There are preventative measures you can take. UV light exposure only makes hyperpigmentation worse by further darkening skin. Freckles or scars, and dark skin around nipples and genitals may become even darker than usual during pregnancy. If you are exposed to the sun, be sure to wear sunscreen with iron oxides and a SPF of 30-50 applied every two hours, as well as a wide-brimmed hat. While there are no specific studies on these methods for chloasma, the following topical treatments may help: Since melasma may also be the result of hormonal imbalances, you may improve matters by giving yourself some much-needed TLC. A dermatologist can accurately diagnose your condition using a Woods lamp, which helps show whether a skin condition is bacterial, fungal, or otherwise concerning. When did see the discoloration in your skin? The good news: Pregnancy mask is usually temporary and fades after delivery or, in some cases, after you finish breastfeeding. For more brightening oomph, they may recommend exfoliating treatments, such as microdermabrasion or chemical peels, which slough away dead skin cells to promote skin rejuvenation. Will I still have melasma after my pregnancy? When you are pregnant, your body shows several changes. Melasma appears most often during the second or third trimester, as hormonal changes increase. There are several topical, procedural, and oral therapies to manage melasma during pregnancy. 2011;57(6):665-667. An increase in estrogen levels can worsen melasma. Accessibility 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Skin conditions commonly confused with melasma include: If you have melasma, the results of the biopsy will typically reveal the following: The severity of your melasma can be measured by using the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI). Your birth control? 2019 Jun;45(6):818-828. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001912. 6.7 AOBBIY Hyperpigment Remover. The outer layer is the epidermis, the middle is the dermis, and the deepest layer is the subcutis. The most important one is something you should be doing every day, year-round, anywaywearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen, and reapplying it every two hours or after swimming or sweating. If you're breastfeeding or plan to get pregnant again soon, let your provider know and check with her before using any over-the-counter treatments. If concealer causes other problems for example, if youve got oily or sensitive skin turn to pressed powder to lighten the spots. Slather up with gentle products instead. Your belly gets larger and your blood volume increases as your baby grows. Melasma appears slowly, and the spots are usually larger than those from sun damage or age. It usually goes away after you give birth. One of the only topical lightening ingredients thats considered safe to use during pregnancy, azelaic acid hasnt been linked to birth defects in animal studies. Trivedi MK, Yang FC, Cho BK. This discoloration is usually symmetrical and is most common on the cheeks and nose, but its also found on the forehead and upper lip. 2) Stopping the transfer of that pigment to the surface of the skin where it appears as dark spots. Aside from pregnancy hormones, the suns UV rays, and genetics, there are other potential sparks that light the fire of melasma. (2020). First and foremost, try to resist the urge to self-diagnose. A dermatologist specializes in skin conditions. It might be appropriate for you to use a different medication to avoid the side effects. How many hours of sunlight do you recommend I receive? Why Does Pregnancy Make My Lips and Skin So Dry? He goes on to explain that the shape of the discolorations matters as well, since melasma coalesces in patches, as opposed to being distinct spotswhich would likely be other kinds of hyperpigmentation, such as sunspots. Is Any Acne Treatment Safe to Use During Pregnancy? Some studies link melasma to deficiency in iron and possibly vitamin B12. Melasma is a super common skin condition characterized by hyperpigmentation on certain areas of the face, explains Dan Belkin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the New York Dermatology Group in NYC. 2021. A few alternative remedies, like turmeric and aloe vera, have shown at least some success at improving melasma. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out by clinical examination and questionnaire on 400 pregnant women. Is it normal to have melasma during pregnancy? Melasma can be managed, but often not entirely cured, in the sense that in someone who is predisposed, it can always come back. Sometimes melasma will return and needs further treatment. 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. Women are more likely to get melasma than men: about 10% of those who get melasma are men, 90% women. All rights reserved. Melasma is a very common skin disorder, especially among pregnant women. Otherwise, speak with your doctor about the options for treatment and the benefits and risks of each. You may be referred to a dermatologist for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. ), (https://dermnetnz.org/topics/drug-induced-photosensitivity/), (https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/melasma-overview), (https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/appendix-12/), (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279255/#:~:text=What%20does%20skin%20do%3F,as%20germs%20and%20toxic%20substances. Yes, this also applies to tanning beds or any other environment where you would be exposed to UVA and UVB rays. This means that its long-lasting (three months or more). Another, less common name for melasma, is chloasma. Then apply your foundation to the rest of your face, avoiding the patches. That said, it may take time possibly months for it to completely fade without any targeted treatment. Birth control pills, pregnancy, and hormone therapy can all help trigger melasma. This seems to explain why melasma develops on skin that gets the most sunlight like skin on the face, neck, and arms. Dermatol Surg. Exactly How to Treat the Skin Discoloration. It is supremely sensitive to the sun, worsening with relatively minimal exposure, cautions Dr. Belkin. Plus, you cant change your genetics. Can Melasma Be Prevented During Pregnancy? Genetics? These hormones are thought to contribute to your melasma. Read our, Why Does Melasma Develop During Pregnancy. 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. 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. Where are the discolorations located on your body? Melasma may be triggered by hormonal changes during pregnancy, which stimulate a temporary increase in the amount of melanin your body produces. 6.5 CeraVe Vitamin C Serum. Learn about special offers, current clinical research studies, and more. If your hyperpigmentation is accompanied by consistent itching, irritation or discomfort, its important to note that these are not symptoms of melasma. Your body goes through tremendous changes during pregnancy. Its always best to speak with your healthcare provider. To determine a treatment plan, your healthcare provider will have to first figure out whats possibly causing the melasma. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. Pregnancy. Melasma is common, normal and harmless, but it can be bothersome. 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. Too much screen time? Melasma can be slow to respond to treatment. Don't expect instant results it may take many months to see improvement. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist for more information. In addition to her extensive health and wellness writing, Nancy has written about many general interest topics for publications as diverse as Newsweek, Teen Vogue, abcnews.com, and Craftsmanship Quarterly. Melasma is more common during pregnancy, affecting 15% to 50% of pregnant people. Fluctuations in certain hormones can cause melasma, which is why it commonly occurs during pregnancy. Does pregnancy melanoma go away on its own? . Some of the skin conditions you may notice, such as stretch marks and melasma (dark spots and patches), are caused by pregnancy, and will fade over the next few months. By Cat Matta 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. Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?Hillcrest Cancer Center check-in changesCole Eye entrance closingVisitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, Notice of Intelligent Business Solutions data eventLearn more. What to Expect supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov. Remember that it's likely to go away after giving birth. 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. Changes in hormones especially estrogen and progesterone is the main cause of melasma during pregnancy. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Skin hyperpigmentation during pregnancy is very common. A review of laser and light therapy in melasma. In turn, the addition of vitamin C serum to skincare routines helps fight free radical damage, brightens the skin, and improves skin tone. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. StatPearls: Melasma. Wide brimmed hats are your best friend. Read on to learn about what causes melasma during pregnancy and how to treat it. Cut down on screen time in front of your LED screen television, tablet, mobile phone and computer. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. All rights reserved. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. It usually develops in one or more of these areas: Melasma can also develop on your arms or neck, though it's less common. Coll Antropol. Theyre also commonly mistaken for freckles or age spots, however, those tend to be smaller. Make a good concealer your best friend. What Is Pregnancy Melasma? Chloasma may also be worsened by hormonal imbalances that may have been present even before pregnancy. Wear abroad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher on your face all day, every day, even if youre not going outside, since harmful rays can come right through your windows. Hormone treatments, specifically ones that involve estrogen. The side effects of melasma treatments aren't entirely understood, and treatments may not be safe for you to use while you're pregnant. It doesnt itch or hurt, and it doesnt become malignant. Dr. Nazarian shares that she prefers a multipronged approach to treating pregnancy melasma. Sometimes, however, it persists. As a result, the blood volume in the body increases by up to 50%, and the heart rate may rise by 10 to 15 beats per minute. The underlying cause of pregnancy melasma is unknown, beyond an overproduction of melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color. Hyperovulation has few symptoms, if any. Women commonly experience changes in the appearance of the skin during pregnancy, including: dark spots on the breasts, nipples and inner thighs melasma linea nigra stretch marks acne spider. Dendritic (branched) pigmented melanocytes. And ask your doctor about any potential vitamin deficiencies. Melasma will not harm your baby. In fact, taking these precautions has been shown to lower your chance of getting melasma at any time in your life by 50%, and slashing your risk of pregnancy melasma by a whopping 90%. We avoid using tertiary references. These areas may get darker the more youre exposed to the sun or the further along you are in your pregnancy. our editorial and medical review policies, dark line down the center of your abdomen (the linea nigra), Skin Darkening and Discoloration During Pregnancy. With that being said, most people with melasma dont require treatmentits a personal choice. 2. Objective To determine the prevalence and awareness of melasma during pregnancy at the Shahed University Hospitals of Tehran, Iran. Her go-to ingredients include vitamin C, kojic acid, and licorice root extract, as well as hydroquinone and glycolic acid. Pregnancy melasma, also known as a " pregnancy mask," is an extremely common condition that causes skin hyperpigmentation (i.e. If youre exercising, try avoiding peak sun hours in your area, generally the middle of the day. When this increases the amount of melanin produced also increases creating patches of darkened skin. Epidermal melasma resides in the surface of the skin. Yes, it's common to develop blotchy spots of darker skin when you're pregnant, a condition called melasma or chloasma. Chemical peels and lasers may cause the surface layers of skin to die, cause post-procedure hyperpigmentation, and cause hypertrophic scars. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Melanin is what gives skin its color. Since its unknown what causes melasma, aside from the things that trigger it, it can be difficult to prevent it. Related: Your guide to pregnancy-safe skin care. When melasma occurs during pregnancy, it is also called chloasma, or "the mask of pregnancy."Pregnant women experience increased estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) levels during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Match the foundation to your skin tone, but use a concealer thats a shade lighter. The darkened spots probably will fade within a year after delivery, and your skin should return to its normal shade, although sometimes the changes never completely disappear. Melasma, which causes patchy areas of discoloration that sometimes resemble freckles, is most likely to appear on the cheeks, but it can also develop elsewhere. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. 2014;89:771-782. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20143063. ), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. Discover what they are here. 2005-2023Everyday Health, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. Anderson Cancer Center. What's more, skin that's already more pigmented such as your nipples, freckles, scars, and the skin of your genitals may become even darker during pregnancy. At this time no foods or drinks are known by experts to directly cause, magically cure or worsen melasma. Hormones (including hormonal medications). If the spots don't fade within a few months after having the baby, there are treatments to help fade them. Our expert physicians and surgeons provide a full range of dermatologic, reconstructive and aesthetic treatments options at Cleveland Clinic. PLoS Biol. It's typically diagnosed after an individual develops multiple pregnancies at once. (2008). You may notice dark patches or splotches on your forehead, cheeks, chin, or around your mouth. Wear protective clothing and sunscreen as needed. Eat a variety of healthy, whole foods, drink plenty of water and get sufficient rest. Are you interested in prescriptions that may improve your melasma? The primary symptom of chloasma is darkening of the skin on the face. 3) Removing the melanin already present in the surface of the skin. Make a mask with cooked oatmeal and honey, leave it on skin for about 10 min and wash it. 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. 5 Tips to Prevent Constipation During Pregnancy, How to Cope With Anxiety During Pregnancy, A Complete Guide to Pregnancy-Safe Skincare, Breastfeeding Safe SkincareWhat to Use and Avoid When Nursing Your Baby, The 11 Best Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Products Dermatologists Love. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Yes, it's common to develop blotchy spots of darker skin when you're pregnant, a condition called melasma or chloasma. Its often called the mask of pregnancy. Melasma happens because of overproduction of the cells that make the color of your skin. Use the treatment and management advice from your dermatologist or another healthcare provider. Accessed 7/23/2020. Learn more about this common pregnancy skin change that you may experience when you're expecting. Hydroquinone is a prescription product to lighten skin or reduce skin pigmentation that occurs from melasma and chloasma, which can be brought on by pregnancy. Heres more about this condition, why it crops up in pregnancy, and how you can treat it safely. During pregnancy, melasma usually appears on the face as patchy or spotted areas of skin that are tan, brown, or sometimes blue-gray. Warm compresses (running warm water over your breasts in the shower or applying a warm washcloth) and massages will probably clear the duct in a few days. Make-up labeled as non-comedogenic or hypoallergenic is less likely to irritate skin and worsen melasma. Wilkerson EC, Van Acker MM, Bloom BS, Goldberg DJ. Is there a specific sunscreen you recommend? Chloasma is a cosmetic concern. Overall, between 50 and 70 percent of people will develop some form of melasma during pregnancy. Ali, S, Bali S, P S. Hormonal evaluation in females having melasma. Women with darker complexions are more likely to have melasma than women with lighter skin. Skin color needs to be factored in when discussing skin diseases, aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/melasma-overview, acog.org/womens-health/faqs/skin-conditions-during-pregnancy. A safer choice would be azeleic acid which is completely safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Treatments for melasma include topical creams, chemical peels, as well as gentle skin resurfacing procedures. The agents listed above rarely eradicate all of the melasma. She served as Chief Resident at one of the nations top dermatology programs The University of Texas at Houston and M.D. LED light from your television, laptop, cell phone and tablet. Malar pattern . That said, there are skin cancers that look similar to melasma, so its important to see your dermatologist to get a definitive diagnosis. At this time no medication can completely prevent melasma. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. How much youre out in the sun or even the time of year when youre pregnant may also affect when you first notice it. Shell also sometimes prescribe oral medication to slow down the rate of re-pigmentation and rebounding. But you dont have to just live with it. There are treatment options. Pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations, sun exposure, medication side effects, genetics, age, inflammation, and skin injuries can all lead to different types of skin discoloration.
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