Summer is often conducive to the appearance of the pregnancy mask in pregnant women. In question: the sun which causes brown spots on the face. How to prevent and remove the pregnancy mask also called chloasma?
The pregnancy mask is quite common in pregnant women, especially during the summer period. The sun is indeed responsible for the skin pigmentations that can appear on the face of the future mother, but hormones are also involved. Here are all the answers to your questions about the pregnancy mask or chloasma.
What is a pregnancy mask?
THE pregnancy mask, also called chloasma or melasma, corresponds to brown pigmented “plaques” well-defined, which are distributed over the face (forehead, temples, chin, cheeks, around the mouth, even on the jawbones, etc.). They are generally symmetrical and have a more or less regular shape.
Why do we have a pregnancy mask?
The presence of Brown stains or greyish is due to the hormonal upheaval of pregnancy. Indeed, theincreased hormone levels during pregnancyand more specifically estrogen, is responsible for the overproduction of melanin, a skin pigment that reacts to sun exposure and thus causing hyperpigmentation of the skin.
Is the sun responsible for the appearance of the pregnancy mask?
The type and place of exposure to the sun’s rays play a role in the appearance of the mask of pregnancy. But know that even a very low level of sunshine is enough to reveal a mask of pregnancy.
In which month does the pregnancy mask appear?
The pregnancy mask concerns a very large majority of pregnant women during the second half of their pregnancy. It’s often between the fourth and sixth month of pregnancy that the pregnancy mask occurs, which usually appears following exposure to the sun.
Often, to compensate for the lack of vitamin D during pregnancy, expectant mothers tend to expose themselves to the first rays of the sun, but protection is essential so as not to see brown spots appear on the face. So we must always think protect your skin well, especially that of the face, when you are pregnant. Until the baby is born, a total screen index 50+, daily and even in town, a hat as well as sunglasses are necessary to avoid any appearance of stains. This is the only solution to not see these spots settling on your face!
Does the pregnancy mask occur more often on dark or fair skin?
Brown women with dark skin are generally more affected by the pregnancy mask than fair-skinned women, even if the latter are not spared. It is indeed the phototype of each, that is to say their skin and hair colors, which determines the risk of developing one.
In addition, women affected by the pregnancy mask have a risk of having them again during a future pregnancy. They will therefore have to be particularly vigilant and protect themselves well from the sun.
Treatments, creams, what to do in case of pregnancy mask?
When a chloasma is present during pregnancy, it generally disappears very quickly after delivery, but can however persist until the child is six months old. If the spots persist, do not hesitate to consult a dermatologist who may be able to prescribe depigmenting medicated creams. These are usually creams based on vitamin A acid or hydroquinone combined with a corticosteroid. Sometimes the depigmenting creams used alone are not enough to remove stains.
In this case, you can ask your dermatologist to perform a depigmenting peel : it is a mask that the dermatologist leaves to act on the woman’s skin. This mask is composed of active chemical principles capable of reducing excessive skin pigmentation.
Pregnancy mask after childbirth: how to get rid of it?
The pregnancy mask can take up to six months to disappear after childbirth, without worrying. It takes time for the hormones to return to the same level as before pregnancy. To keep it as short as possible, it is advisable to use a cream with sun protection on a daily basis. An SPF 50+ sunscreen in summer, when skiing or at the sea is essential, when a day cream with an SPF 15 can be enough on a daily basis and when the weather is not very good.
If melasma persists after six months, it is possible to consult a dermatologist, who can prescribe a treatment if the mother is not breastfeeding. Creams containing hydroquinone, vitamin A or even corticosteroids may then be recommended, as well as gentle peelings (to be carried out in the office), as well as anti-stain or depigmenting treatments.
Can you have a pregnancy mask without being pregnant?
Know that estrogen birth control pills may promote pregnancy mask, this is why in some cases, the pregnancy mask can concern women who are not yet pregnant. So if these brown spots persist after childbirth or if you are not pregnant, talk to your gynecologist who can prescribe another contraceptive (progestogen pill, IUD, etc.).