Products that irritate the skin can make melasma worse. Between 50% to 70% of all melasma cases are among those who are pregnant. Many compacts come in a wide range of colors for all skin tones. beneath the breasts during late pregnancy. American Academy of Family Physicians. Cat is a linguistic alchemist and expert wordsmith who has written and edited for some of the world's biggest brands. 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. Some topical products we have found safe to use during pregnancy are Vitamin-C, Azelaic Acid, Lytera 2.0, and physical sunscreen. Melasma is more common during pregnancy, affecting 15% to 50% of pregnant people. 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. Find advice, support and good company (and some stuff just for fun). Fluctuations in certain hormones can cause melasma, which is why it commonly occurs during pregnancy. How to understand chronic pain; Tools. The mask of pregnancy technically called melasma appears when a steep rise in estrogen and progesterone levels stimulates excess melanin production, also known as hyperpigmentation. 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. She works full-time as a senior content manager at a multinational digital agency. But you may be able to avoid the factors listed above which make melasma worse. Accessed 7/23/2020. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading ourmedical review and editorial policy. Melasma is harmless. Your skin is your barricade. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. If other treatments haven't helped, a dermatologist can lighten dark spots with laser treatments, but that's not the first option. Melasma is a skin condition in which some skin cells become darker. It fades slowly, so it could take a few months. ; Telogen effluvium post-delivery is a compensatory decease in hair growth and shedding of hair. Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist seeing patients in New York, N.Y. She practices various aspects of dermatology, including cosmetic treatments, laser, injectables, skin cancer screening, general dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and body contouring. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. During pregnancy, the body goes through significant hormonal changes. This common condition occurs in 50-70% of pregnant women. These hormones are thought to contribute to your melasma. Pregnancy is not the only cause of melasma. 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. Learn more aboutour editorial and medical review policies. It's considered safe during both pregnancy and breastfeeidng. Although its a physically harmless skin condition, we know that it can be bothersome, even to the point of making you feel self-conscious in social settings. Dr. Nazarian shares that she prefers a multipronged approach to treating pregnancy melasma. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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. It is very common in pregnant people and tends to appear during the second or third trimester. Melasma sometimes resolves itself one hormonal balance is restored. Y. ou can also be sure to eat a healthy, skin-friendly diet that contains plenty of nutrients and vitamin D. Foods that fit the bill include eggs (only if theyre fully cooked), yogurt, meat (fully cooked), fish high in fatty acids (also fully cooked), and mushrooms. 2008;32(Suppl 2):139-141. (2008). Melasma is harmless, physically, but can have an emotional impact. Melasma may start at any point in your pregnancy, though it most commonly begins in the second or third trimester. A topical treatment isnt your only option. It usually develops in one or more of these areas: Melasma can also develop on your arms or neck, though it's less common. It may take several months for your hormones to balance and skin pigmentation to fade. When did see the discoloration in your skin? Check out our article on safe skin care during pregnancy. U.S. National Library of Medicine. There are preventative measures you can take. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Expect it to get worse and/or reoccur if you dont take steps such as avoiding the sun and makeups and soaps that irritate your skin. Here are ways of reducing melasma on the face during pregnancy: 1. Were explaining why this occurs, below. You may experience cramping, morning sickness, and all sorts of unfamiliar aches and pains. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Treatment once you have finished breast- feeding can take the normal course, which normally begins with topical bleaching . 1997-2023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. 2017;3(1):11-20. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.01.004. AAD. Pregnancy melasma, and melasma in general, fall into three categories based on how deep into the skin the dark spots are: epidermal, dermal, and mixed. It's typically diagnosed after an individual develops multiple pregnancies at once. Your hair and skin may also go through a transformation for the better or worse. She served as Chief Resident at one of the nations top dermatology programs The University of Texas at Houston and M.D. That said, there are skin cancers that look similar to melasma, so its important to see your dermatologist to get a definitive diagnosis. Since its unknown what causes melasma, aside from the things that trigger it, it can be difficult to prevent it. You may also develop dark patches on your cheeks, along your jawline, or on your forearms and other parts of your body that are exposed to the sun. Vitamin C is used in skin care as a strong antioxidant, especially in regard to protecting the skin from sun damage. It largely affects people who were assigned female at birtha whopping 90% of themduring their reproductive years, when theyre 20 to 40 years old. How Many Types of Pregnancy Melasma Are There? Vitamin D helps keep your skin healthy in general. 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. Wearing a good pregnancy-safe sunscreen with SPF 30+ is key. Don't expect instant results it may take many months to see improvement. 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. Dr. Arlo Miller answered Dermatology 17 years experience Avoid: I would not recommend it. If someone in your family has had melasma, youre more vulnerable to the condition. That said, prescribing instructions note that it should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. It's unlikely that a healthcare provider will recommend treatment, as melasma often goes away on its own a few months after giving birth. Most treatments take time to work, so the spots will fade gradually. Treatments for melasma include topical creams, chemical peels, as well as gentle skin resurfacing procedures. Dendritic (branched) pigmented melanocytes. What Is Pregnancy Melasma? 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. Ultraviolet and infrared radiation from the sun are key in making melasma worse. There are three main methods of treatment for melasma: 1) Slowing down or stopping the creation of the pigment melanin. 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 seems to explain why melasma develops on skin that gets the most sunlight like skin on the face, neck, and arms. The most effective way to treat pregnancy melasma is to see your dermatologist as soon as you start to see its hallmark patchwork appear. Report all side effects to your healthcare provider. American Academy of Dermatology Association. The heart has to work harder during pregnancy to pump blood to both the mother and the growing fetus. DermNet NZ; Science SourceA pregnancy mask may appear as dark, blotchy, brown, confetti-like patches of skin. Skin conditions during pregnancy. Does pregnancy melanoma go away on its own? Overall, between 50 and 70 percent of people will develop some form of melasma during pregnancy. All rights reserved. Wide brimmed hats are your best friend. It doesnt affect your baby in any way or indicate any other pregnancy complications. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. The mechanism that causes Melasma is not well understood, but there is a strong correlation between hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, ovarian cysts, etc. Kalayc M. Pregnancy Mask: Melasma. This means that its long-lasting (three months or more). Accessed 7/23/2020. In any case, continue to protect your skin from the sun by using sunscreen every day, wearing protective clothing, and staying out of the sun during peak hours. 1. 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. Spontaneous recovery back to pre-pregnancy levels usually occurs within 6-12 months. Non-pregnancy related hormonal changes like oral contraceptives may also cause skin hyperpigmentation. Its an organ the largest organ and it makes up about one-seventh of your body weight. Pregnancy melasma, also known as a " pregnancy mask," is an extremely common condition that causes skin hyperpigmentation (i.e. Then apply your foundation to the rest of your face, avoiding the patches. Only a dermatologist will be able to tell you for sure if you have pregnancy melasma. if not please suggest cream? Most importantly, try and remind yourself that you likely notice and dwell on your pregnancy melasma more than anyone else, and that youre far from alone in experiencing it.