Aside from pregnancy hormones, the suns UV rays, and genetics, there are other potential sparks that light the fire of melasma. 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. Another, less common name for melasma, is chloasma. To determine a treatment plan, your healthcare provider will have to first figure out whats possibly causing the melasma. Chemical peels and lasers may cause the surface layers of skin to die, cause post-procedure hyperpigmentation, and cause hypertrophic scars. It usually develops in one or more of these areas: Melasma can also develop on your arms or neck, though it's less common. 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. Hyperovulation has few symptoms, if any. During pregnancy, melasma usually appears on the face as patchy or spotted areas of skin that are tan, brown, or sometimes blue-gray. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. This common condition occurs in 50-70% of pregnant women. Undated. Melasma is not dangerous or cancerous, but it may affect how you feel about your appearance. Melasma During Pregnancy: Causes and Treatment. If you are currently expecting, or thinking about becoming pregnant, this post will cover everything you need to know about pregnancy-induced melasma, including ways to prevent occurrence and treatment options. Limit sunbathing and try relaxing under a tree or umbrella instead. Exposure to sunlight can make it more noticeable. Melasma may be triggered by hormonal changes during pregnancy, which stimulate a temporary increase in the amount of melanin your body produces. Is Any Acne Treatment Safe to Use During Pregnancy? What makes breast cancer come back? Between 1.5% and 33% of the population may get melasma and it happens more often during a womans reproductive years, and rarely happens during puberty. Verywell Family's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Utilization of Laser Therapy During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Maternal and Fetal Effects Reported From 1960 to 2017. Melasma. Commonly affected areas include your face, including the cheeks, upper lip and forehead, as well as the forearms. When you are outside, reapply sunscreen once every two hours. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020. What Is Pregnancy Melasma? Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. What Causes a Melasma Mustache and How to Treat It, Your Guide to a Pregnancy-Safe Skin Care Routine, Why You May Get Skin Tags During Pregnancy, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, What Are the Symptoms of Hyperovulation?, Pregnancy Friendly Recipe: Creamy White Chicken Chili with Greek Yogurt, What You Should Know About Consuming Turmeric During Pregnancy, Pregnancy-Friendly Recipe: Herby Gruyre Frittata with Asparagus and Sweet Potatoes, The Best Stretch Mark Creams and Belly Oils for Pregnancy in 2023. Safety of skin care products during pregnancy. Shell also sometimes prescribe oral medication to slow down the rate of re-pigmentation and rebounding. Here are ways of reducing melasma on the face during pregnancy: 1. Fluctuations in certain hormones can cause melasma, which is why it commonly occurs during pregnancy. How much youre out in the sun or even the time of year when youre pregnant may also affect when you first notice it. 2) Stopping the transfer of that pigment to the surface of the skin where it appears as dark spots. Another exfoliation option would be to have a laser skin resurfacing treatment. Look for products that contain zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or other physical blockers (mineral sunscreens) versus those that rely on chemical blockers. Study of Influence of Blue Light Emitted by Computer/Television Screens on Melasma. The #1 app for tracking pregnancy and baby growth. I use a variety of modalities to treat this conditionspecific topicals and chemical peels, she shares. If your hyperpigmentation is accompanied by consistent itching, irritation or discomfort, its important to note that these are not symptoms of melasma. Bozzo P, Chua-Gocheco A, Einarson A. If you experience these signs or develop severe irritation, you may be dealing with another condition. Thankfully, the only thing it interferes with is your skins appearance, and its not the kind of skin condition that causes cancer or can turn into cancer. Journal of Experimental and Basic Medical Sciences. 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. Coll Antropol. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 6.6 Naturium vitamin C Complex Face Serum. Despite the fact that pregnancy melasma isnt a dangerous condition, it can do a number on your self-esteem and confidence. Your epidermis contains cells called melanocytes that store and produce a dark color (pigment) known as melanin. 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. They can help you with management and treatment of your melasma. Can i use 2% hydro quinine during pregnancy for melasma. 2 2019 Jun;45(6):818-828. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001912. They can appear anywhere on the body but are most common on the stomach, hips, breasts, and thighs. This doesnt mean you have to stay indoors when the sun is out, though. Solar elastosis and elastic fiber fragmentation. See a board-certified dermatologist to figure out the best and safest option for your skin. 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. darkening), especially among people who are pregnant. Slather up with gentle products instead. It is very likely that if you were going to get Melasma at the time of . If hyperpigmentation started in pregnancy or after birth control pills, or worsens in summer, that would suggest melasma, he says. Eva Dasher writes, researches, and edits content on a wide variety of subjects, including parenting, medicine, travel, natural history, science, business, and the arts. Accessed 7/23/2020. Don't expect instant results it may take many months to see improvement. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. 2017;3(1):11-20. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.01.004. However, it is not likely to go away while youre pregnant or taking hormone contraceptives. ), document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), document.getElementById("ak_js_3").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), 2023 Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. Epidermal melasma resides in the surface of the skin. If you opt for a spa treatment during pregnancy, be sure to let your esthetician know that youre pregnant. Anderson Cancer Center. This pregnancy-friendly spin on traditional chili is packed with the nutrients your body needs when you're expecting. However, a skin-friendly diet including adequate amounts of vitamin D is likely to help. 6.3 Paula's Choice facial exfoliant. How Many Types of Pregnancy Melasma Are There? Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing. 1997-2023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. 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. Estimates vary, but up to 70% of pregnant people develop melasma. 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. Most people with melasma have a history of daily or intermittent sun exposure, although heat is also suspected to be an underlying factor. Sometimes melasma will return and needs further treatment. What is known is that there is a genetic component in the development of melasma. Head out early in the morning or later in the evening when the sun is low. Hormone treatments, specifically ones that involve estrogen. It can be frustrating to deal with changes to your skin during pregnancy. 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. Results: The prevalence of melasma was 15.8%[95% confidence interval (CI) 12.3-19.4]. After all, as it progresses, it gets more difficult to treat. We'll tell you if it's safe. Otherwise, speak with your doctor about the options for treatment and the benefits and risks of each. If you're seeking a preventive, we've gathered a few of the best stretch mark creams for pregnancy. Ask them questions and voice your concerns. Last medically reviewed on April 30, 2021. Then apply your foundation to the rest of your face, avoiding the patches. A safer choice would be azeleic acid which is completely safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is not cancerous and does not become cancerous, nor does it have any effect on your pregnancy. When your skin heals from the treatment, it may cause even more discoloration. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. When you are pregnant, your body shows several changes. Yes, it's common to develop blotchy spots of darker skin when you're pregnant, a condition called melasma or chloasma. PMID: 30998530. Will I still have melasma after my pregnancy? First and foremost, try to resist the urge to self-diagnose. 1. Why do dark spots and patches appear on the skin during pregnancy? So easy and delicious. In turn, the addition of vitamin C serum to skincare routines helps fight free radical damage, brightens the skin, and improves skin tone. Women with darker complexions are more likely to have melasma than women with lighter skin. Mix a solution of a half of fresh lemon juice and half of cucumber juice or water to lighten top . And some treatment methods may not be safe or effective to use when pregnant. Are darkened spots on skin during pregnancy ever a sign of illness? Your hair and skin may also go through a transformation for the better or worse. 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. StatPearls: Melasma. Make-up labeled as non-comedogenic or hypoallergenic is less likely to irritate skin and worsen melasma. Your body goes through tremendous changes during pregnancy. Does pregnancy melanoma go away on its own? Pregnancy melasma, also known as a " pregnancy mask," is an extremely common condition that causes skin hyperpigmentation (i.e. All rights reserved. In pregnant people, melasma often goes away on its own within a few months after giving birth. Its often used to treat hyperpigmentation as well as rosacea and acne during pregnancy and is available in prescription form and over-the-counter gels, foams and creams. What are stretch marks? ), (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. Cut down on screen time in front of your LED screen television, tablet, mobile phone and computer. Melasma is usually flat. If you have dark skin, seek a provider who is experienced in laser treatment for people of color. Who is at risk of melasma? Melasma is a skin disorder where the melanocytes (color-producing cells) in your skin produce extra pigment for some reason. Objective To determine the prevalence and awareness of melasma during pregnancy at the Shahed University Hospitals of Tehran, Iran. Most treatments take time to work, so the spots will fade gradually. Its caused by hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy, which affect the skins pigment-producing melanocytes. Non-pregnancy related hormonal changes like oral contraceptives may also cause skin hyperpigmentation. 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. The same increased production of melanin that causes the facial splotches of melasma also causes the linea nigra, or dark line that you may notice running down your belly. 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.