If you’ve noticed new, skin splotches on your face that are darker than your natural complexion, you may have melasma — which is often called the “mask of pregnancy.” But you’re not alone: an estimated 50 to 75 percent of expectant mothers develop it during their pregnancies.
What is melasma (pregnancy mask)?
Melasma is a skin condition that can appear during pregnancy, often on the face. Some women may have small spots resembling freckles, while others may have a few larger, blotchy, confetti-like patches.
The discoloration — tan, brown or gray spots — is usually symmetrical and is most common on the cheeks and nose, but it’s also found on the forehead and upper lip. It won’t, however, cause symptoms like itchiness or pain.
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. Exposure to sunlight can make it more noticeable.
What causes melasma (pregnancy mask)?
Melasma appears when a steep rise in estrogen and progesterone levels stimulates excess melanin production, also known as hyperpigmentation.
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.
When does melasma appear?
Melasma usually develops in the second or third trimesters, when the levels of estrogen and progesterone are typically higher.
What can you do about pregnancy mask?
There are a few tricks you can try to minimize melasma, including the following:
1. Protect yourself
Exposure to the sun will make your pregnancy mask more pronounced. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher on your face all day, every day, even if you’re not going outside, since harmful rays can come right through your windows.
More on Pregnancy Symptoms
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. When you are outside, reapply sunscreen once every two hours.
2. Conceal it
Make a good concealer your best friend. Choose a corrective foundation and concealer that are non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and designed to cover hyperpigmentation.
Match the foundation to your skin tone, but use a concealer that’s a shade lighter. First, apply the concealer to the patchy spots. Then apply your foundation to the rest of your face, avoiding the patches.
If concealer causes other problems — for example, if you’ve got oily or sensitive skin — turn to pressed powder to lighten the spots. Many compacts come in a wide range of colors for all skin tones.
3. Try topical vitamin C
Applying this powerful antioxidant to your skin can help brighten melasma while providing other anti-aging benefits, like increased collagen production. It's considered safe during both pregnancy and breastfeeding.
4. Talk to your doctor about azelaic acid
Although most skin-lightening ingredients are off-limits during pregnancy, talk to your doctor about whether you can apply topical azelaic acid to your skin for melasma. It’s often used to treat hyperpigmentation as well as rosacea and acne during pregnancy.
One of the only topical lightening ingredients that’s considered safe to use during pregnancy, it's available in prescription form and over-the-counter gels, foams and creams.
That said, prescribing instructions note that azelaic acid should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. It takes a month or two to work, and it may cause burning, stinging, itching or tingling.
What skin solutions are off-limits during pregnancy?
If you opt for a spa treatment during pregnancy, be sure to let your esthetician know that you’re pregnant. Retinoid treatments and many chemical peels sometimes used to treat hyperpigmentation in facial treatments are a no-go when you’re expecting.
During pregnancy or while you’re breastfeeding, you should also avoid at-home peels, bleaches or other chemical-based lightening treatments, since they can all potentially penetrate the skin. Steer clear of lasers too, since they can be especially irritating during pregnancy.
Does pregnancy mask go away?
The good news: Melasma is usually temporary and fades after delivery or, in some cases, after you finish breastfeeding.
If melasma persists even after you’ve weaned, ask your dermatologist about your options. You may get the green light for any number of treatments — including chemical peels, lasers, intense pulsed light therapy and topical medications — that can help minimize melasma but simply aren’t safe to use if you’re pregnant or nursing.
Ikiwa umegundua madoa mapya ya ngozi kwenye uso wako ambayo ni nyeusi kuliko rangi yako ya asili, unaweza kuwa na melasma, ambayo mara nyingi huitwa "mask ya ujauzito," lakini sio wewe pekee: takriban asilimia 50 hadi 75 ya mama wajawazito huendeleza wakati wa ujauzito. Melasma ni nini? Melasma ni ugonjwa wa ngozi ambao unaweza kutokea wakati wa ujauzito, mara nyingi kwenye uso. Wanawake wengine wanaweza kuwa na madoa madogo yanayofanana na madoa, huku wengine wakiwa na madoa madogo makubwa, yenye madoa, yanayofanana na confetti. Uharibifu wa rangi <unk> tan, kahawia au nyekundu spots <unk> ni kawaida symmetrical na ni ya kawaida juu ya mashavu na pua, lakini pia ni kupatikana juu ya paji la uso na mdomo wa juu. Hata hivyo, haitasababisha dalili kama vile kukwaruza au maumivu. Melasma ni kawaida hasa kwa wanawake wenye ngozi nyeusi au wale wa asili ya Asia na Afrika, ambao wana rangi zaidi katika ngozi yao kuliko watu wenye ngozi nyeupe. Kuangazwa na jua kunaweza kuifanya ionekane wazi zaidi. Ni nini husababisha melasma (kifuniko cha ujauzito)? Melasma huonekana wakati ongezeko kubwa la viwango vya estrogen na progesterone linapochochea uzalishaji wa melanin kupita kiasi, unaojulikana pia kama hyperpigmentation. Ikiwa una melasma, freckles na moles zinaweza kuonekana nyeusi zaidi, kuna uwezekano wa kuwa na mstari mweusi katikati ya tumbo lako (linia nigra), na areolas yako inaweza kuwa na kivuli kirefu. Melasma huonekana lini? Melasma huanza katika miezi ya pili au ya tatu ya mimba, wakati ambapo kiwango cha estrogen na progesterone ni cha juu zaidi. Unaweza kufanya nini kuhusu kinyago cha ujauzito? Kuna njia kadhaa za kupunguza melasma: Jilinde Jua litakufanya uwe na uso wa uzazi ulio wazi zaidi. Tumia sunscreen ya wigo mkubwa na SPF ya 30 au zaidi kwenye uso wako siku nzima, kila siku, hata ikiwa hautakwenda nje, kwani miale mbaya inaweza kuingia kupitia madirisha yako. Jihadharini na jua wakati miale ni nguvu zaidi - kutoka 10 asubuhi hadi 2 pm - na fanya taarifa ya mtindo kwa michezo glam miwani ya jua na kofia pana-brimmed wakati wewe kuondoka nyumbani. Unapokuwa nje, tumia krimu ya kujikinga na jua mara moja kila baada ya saa mbili. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Ficha Fanya kifuniko kizuri kiwe rafiki yako wa karibu. Chagua msingi wa kurekebisha na concealer ambayo si comedogenic, hypoallergenic na iliyoundwa kufunika hyperpigmentation. Kuendana msingi kwa rangi ya ngozi yako, lakini kutumia concealer kwamba ni kivuli mwanga. Kwanza, tumia kifuniko kwenye sehemu zenye madoa. Kisha weka msingi kwenye uso wako wote, ukiepuka vipande. Kama concealer husababisha matatizo mengine - kwa mfano, kama una ngozi ya mafuta au nyeti - kugeuka kwa poda pressed ili kuangazia spots. Vifaa vingi vya rangi ndogo-ndogo vinapatikana katika rangi mbalimbali kwa ajili ya rangi zote za ngozi. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Kwa kutumia vitamini C, unaweza kuongeza nguvu ya ngozi yako na kuongeza uwezo wa uzazi wa ngozi, na kuongeza uzalishaji wa collagen. Inatambuliwa kuwa salama wakati wa ujauzito na kunyonyesha. 4. Uwe na uhakika Kwa sababu ya matumizi ya asidi ya azelaic, dawa ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi ya ngozi. Ni mara nyingi kutumika kutibu hyperpigmentation kama vile rosacea na acne wakati wa ujauzito. Moja ya viungo tu vya kuangazia vya kawaida ambavyo vinachukuliwa kuwa salama kutumia wakati wa ujauzito, inapatikana katika fomu ya dawa na over-the-counter gels, foams na cream. Kwa hiyo, maagizo ya kuagiza yanaonyesha kwamba asidi ya azelaic inapaswa kutumiwa wakati wa ujauzito tu ikiwa inahitajika waziwazi. Inachukua mwezi mmoja au mbili kufanya kazi, na inaweza kusababisha kuchoma, kucha, kukwaruza au kutikisa. Ni suluhisho gani za ngozi ambazo hazipaswi kutumiwa wakati wa ujauzito? Ukiamua kufanya matibabu ya spa wakati wa ujauzito, hakikisha unamjulisha daktari wako wa upasuaji kwamba uko mjamzito. Matibabu ya retinoid na peels nyingi za kemikali wakati mwingine hutumiwa kutibu hyperpigmentation katika matibabu ya uso ni no-go wakati unatarajia. Wakati wa ujauzito au wakati unanyonyesha, unapaswa pia kuepuka peels nyumbani, bleaches au matibabu mengine ya kuangazia kemikali, kwani yote yanaweza kupenya ngozi. Pia, epuka kutumia miale ya laser, kwa kuwa inaweza kukasirika hasa wakati wa ujauzito. Je, kinyago cha ujauzito kinapotea? Melasma ni ya muda mfupi na huisha baada ya kujifungua au baada ya kulea mtoto. Ikiwa melasma inabaki hata baada ya kuachwa na mama, mwambie daktari wako wa ngozi kuhusu njia unazoweza kutumia. Unaweza kupata mwanga wa kijani kwa matibabu yoyote - ikiwa ni pamoja na peels za kemikali, lasers, tiba ya mwanga mkali na dawa za mahali - ambazo zinaweza kusaidia kupunguza melasma lakini sio salama kutumia ikiwa uko mjamzito au unyonyesha.