Mask of Pregnancy: Melasma
A change in pigmentation of the facial skin is common in pregnancy. (It also can happen from taking oral contraceptive pills.) It is called Melasma and is sometimes referred to as the mask of pregnancy. This can cause areas of cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose and chin to change pigmentation to appear light brown, dark brown, blue gray or ashen gray.
Click here to see what it looks like.
The light brown discoloration is usually the easiest to treat and get rid of through topical treatments. Be careful to make sure that any treatment you use for it is safe to use during pregnancy.
Prevention: Staying out of the sun can help.
Course: Usually resolves within a year. (But may never resolve.)
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