Skin Care
Why the Pregnancy Glow Is a Myth We Should Stop Perpetuating...And what to do when your skin decides to rebel while you're expecting |
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Melasma, or pregnancy mask, is another issue that seems to disproportionately plague expectant moms. It's a form of hyperpigmentation that looks like light or dark brown patches on your face. "About 50 pregnant of pregnant women have some form of melasma. Some people get a few spots, for others it's severe," Sullivan says. In other words, it can range from small splotches to large swaths covering the face.
Like pregnancy acne, melasma is caused in part by our old pal, pregnancy hormones. "Pigment cells called melanocytes are very active during pregnancy so when they are exposed to sun, they overproduce pigment," says Tanzi. Because the sun also plays a role, this is why you'll see melasma more commonly on the face, as opposed to less exposed parts of your body.
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SEE NEXT PAGE: Removing the Pregnancy Mask
