Melasma is a skin condition characterized by brown or blue-gray patches or freckle-like spots. It's often called the “mask of pregnancy.” Melasma happens because of overproduction of the cells that make the color of your skin. It is common, harmless and some treatments may help.
If you've ever been pregnant or been around pregnant women, you may have noticed some dark tan or brown patches of skin on the face. This common condition is commonly known as the mask of pregnancy. In medical terms, it's called melasma or chloasma.
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.
A pregnancy mask will usually appear from the 4th month of pregnancy. Melasma affects mainly the face, so the forehead, nostrils, cheeks, upper lip and chin may develop one or more brown spots with regular contours. Pregnancy masks can also appear on the neck.
Brownish blotches on the skin around your eyes, nose, and cheeks are so common in pregnancy, they're nicknamed "pregnancy mask." They're also called chloasma or melasma. You're more likely to get these marks if you have a dark complexion.
Some women even experience a condition called melasma in pregnancy. While melasma isn't harmful, it can cause aesthetic changes to your skin that you may find bothersome. It's essentially a hyperpigmentation of the skin, and it often affects the complexion—which is why it's been aptly nicknamed the mask of pregnancy.
darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma faciei or the "mask of pregnancy" thicker and shinier hair.
It's often called the “mask of pregnancy.” Melasma happens because of overproduction of the cells that make the color of your skin. It is common, harmless and some treatments may help. Melasma usually fades after a few months.
Melasma is often associated with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is common in: Pregnant women. Women taking birth control pills (oral contraceptives)
The condition, which causes sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose, is pretty common. Research found pregnancy rhinitis affects 39% of pregnant people. And the increase in blood flow during pregnancy can sometimes lead to bloody noses—which are usually harmless.
Cause of pregnancy nose
The estrogen levels in your body can cause increased blood flow into your mucous membrane right under your nose. The muscles and membranes in your nose expand owing to the increased blood supply. Hence, the size of your nose will also increase.
hCG is a hormone produced by your placenta when you are pregnant. It appears shortly after the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. If you are pregnant, this hormone increases very rapidly. If you have a 28 day menstrual cycle, you can detect hCG in your urine 12-15 days after ovulation.
Melasma, also called 'chloasma' and 'pregnancy mask', is a common skin condition of adults in which brown or greyish patches of pigmentation (colour) develop, usually on the face. The name comes from melas, the Greek word for black, or cholas, from the word green-ish.
A woman's skin can go through numerous changes during and after pregnancy. While some of the skin changes are positive, others may not be as pleasant. From pigmentation and puffy eyes to loss in facial definition and enlarged noses - these are just some of the many changes a woman's face can go through.
Causes of hyperpigmentation include: Skin inflammation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) Use of certain drugs (such as minocycline, certain cancer chemotherapies, and birth control pills) Hormone system diseases such as Addison disease.
Even though your belly bump won't be noticeable at 3 weeks pregnant, your baby's development is under way with cells dividing and multiplying. Still, by around 3 weeks in your pregnancy, your little one is just 1/25 of an inch long—too small for a bump just yet.
Around 4 or 5 weeks, cramping could be a sign the embryo has implanted nicely into the lining of your uterus. Or it could be a sign your uterus is expanding and stretching your ligaments.
It occurs because the melanocytes, the cells in the skin that produce pigmentation, produce too much—creating patches of darker skin on the face. This condition impacts both men and women, but has been dubbed the “mask of pregnancy” because it can commonly occur in women who are pregnant.
If melasma appeared while you were pregnant, it may go away a few months after you have the baby. If melasma doesn't fade or it bothers you, it can be treated. Your doctor will probably prescribe a cream that contains hydroquinone.
Skin Cancer
The discolored patches of melasma typically appear flat and they appear darker than the surrounding skin. Patches can vary in color depending on the type of cancer that you have. For example, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma can develop skin-colored, pink, or reddish patches and bumps.
When melasma appears, it can cause tan, brown, grayish brown, or bluish gray patches and freckle-like spots. These usually appear on certain areas of face like the cheeks, forehead, chin, and even above the upper lip. While less common, melasma can develop on the arms, neck, or elsewhere.