There had been loads of ugly signs the baby books ready me for throughout being pregnant. Stretch marks, (raging) heartburn, insomnia — I didn’t welcome them with open arms, however I no less than felt prepared for them. So you’ll be able to think about my shock and horror when, someday, I noticed a darkish shadow forming on my higher lip. Within every week, the shadow had darkened from a questionable trick of the sunshine to a full-on mustache: the dreaded “melasma mustache,” I might later be taught.
So, WTF is that this hormonal nightmare, and is there something you’ll be able to (safely) use to deal with it throughout being pregnant and postpartum? To shed some gentle on the topic, Scary Mommy spoke with The Hormonal Mama founder Cara Drescher, a licensed esthetician and infertility, being pregnant, and postpartum coach.
What causes a melasma mustache?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “Melasma is a skin condition that causes patches and spots, usually on the face, which are darker than your natural skin tone.” The darkened pigmentation can present up as blotchy patches on pores and skin at any time, however could be particularly frequent throughout being pregnant.
“Melasma (often called Chloasma during pregnancy) is caused by an increase in estrogen, one of the main hormones involved in pregnancy,” Drescher explains. “Estrogen stimulates melanocytes (specialized skin cells that produce the skin pigment melanin). This stimulation causes them to produce even more melanin, which results in [the] darkening of the skin.”
Melasma shouldn’t be contained to simply the higher lip, both. Drescher shares that melasma might present up on the cheeks, brow, chin, or above the lip. “This is commonly referred to as the ‘mask of pregnancy’ as these locations make it look like a mask,” shares Drescher.
How lengthy does hormonal melasma final?
If you expertise melasma throughout being pregnant, don’t panic — it doesn’t imply the modifications are everlasting. Drescher explains that melasma will usually fade a number of months after giving beginning “as hormone levels begin to even out.”
However, it’s attainable for melasma to last more than a number of months postpartum as effectively. As Drescher explains, “all bodies are different, so [the fading] can take longer in some cases.”
One main approach to make sure that melasma doesn’t get worse throughout this time is to verify to guard your self from the solar. Exposure to daylight can set off melasma, so the American Academy of Dermatology recommends sporting sunscreen always to guard your pores and skin — even on cloudy days!
The AAD additionally recommends selecting light, non-irritating skincare merchandise and taking a break from waxing any spots with melasma throughout this time. Irritating your pores and skin could make your melasma worse, so making certain you might be light together with your complexion and defending it from the solar are each key to making sure it doesn’t get any worse.
How do you deal with hormonal melasma throughout being pregnant and breastfeeding?
During being pregnant and breastfeeding, your choices for treating melasma generally is a little extra restricted. However, Drescher stresses that there are nonetheless protected options to make use of to assist make these dreaded spots begin fading.
“While skin discolorations such as melasma are typically treated using ingredients such as hydroquinone, arbutin, retinoids (vitamin A derivatives), and so on, these ingredients are generally considered unsafe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding,” Drescher explains.
A few components Drescher recommends for safer options are:
- Vitamin C derivatives
- Green and white tea extracts
- Beta carotene
- Azelaic acid
- Kojic acid
“[These ingredients] are generally considered safe for pregnancy and can help lighten melasma spots. Azaleic acid and kojic acid are typically considered safe at lower concentrations and only used topically,” Drescher shared.
That being mentioned, it’s at all times very important to talk with an expert about your particular case. “It’s always best to trust your gut and speak with your doctor or midwife regarding any ingredient concerns,” Drescher continued. Your care skilled will be capable of make stable product suggestions that can assist you defend and deal with your pores and skin safely throughout being pregnant and postpartum.
After months of feeling like your physique doesn’t simply belong to you, it may be extremely irritating to listen to that your undesirable melasma mustache will likely be staying with you even after baby arrives (belief me, I do know). However, time, therapy, and safety are all vital in ensuring that “mask of pregnancy” goes away and stays away.
