Help with My Pregnant Skin!

C. S,

I know of two products that will fade these spots, Melaleuca oil and renew intesive skin therapy will do the trick and is concentrated enough to last you a good 3-6 months and the cost is less than $20

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Hey, C.! I got the same thing...and it happened when I went back on the Pill, too. It's definitely hormonal.

Good news, my friend!! Clinique has an awesome product that I've been using for the past couple of months that has worked wonders for me. It's called Even Better Skin Tone Corrector and here's the link: http://www.clinique.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.t...

I had the mostache and forehead brown spots and now they are mostly gone. I won't lie...I stay out of the sun, because immediately those little spots would come back on my face.

Good luck!
M.
ps - I know there are cheaper products you can get at Walgreens from Garnier and such. Haven't tried those yet.

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So sorry to hear that! I don't know what will fade them, but I do know a great cover up. It's called Dermablend. It's so wonderful that people use it to cover tatoos!! I use it for under my eyes and I look like a totally different person. Good luck, I think that you can find it online, just google it. It should be very affordable.

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Some of us just do not get blessed with a good outcome on our skin from pregnancy. I too had the dark spot thing. Mine is all over my forehead and one big splotch under my eye. I tried everything and the only concealer that works is Bare Minerals which thankfully my girlfriend who is on TV and must conceal everything found. They have the all over concealer and then a spot concealer that is just fabulous. I have found my spots have gotten lighter in time but still there. I fear they will always be around. I do know if you really want to get rid of it you can go see a doc and they can laser it off. I have seen Dr. Squires in Cherry Creek for the veins I got from being pregnant on my legs. They do an incredible job of getting rid of the brown spots too.

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It is hormones, please check with your OBGYN before trying anything though as some products can be dangerous to an unborn baby. Most patches accelerate with the sun with involving hormones, try wearing a wider brimmed hat to protect your face, it should fade or go away once you have had the baby, but talk to your Dr and see what they recommend.

I wish I had an answer but to make you feel better I get a red spot on my chin so I look like I have a beard. I have heard of some expensive creams, but I never tried them. Good luck.

I love Bare Minerals for coverup. It even works as a sun screen. I've been using it for the past two years and I love it.

Hi C.! I was just going to tell you abbout the Mary Kay even complexion essence. I notice someone else already mentioned it. If you want to check out the facts and ingredients in it you can look at it on my website at www.marykay.com/ascifres
Have a great day!!!

Hi C.,

I had the same problem with my last two kids, so I totally sympathize!

You have to be careful with OTC skin treatments because many of them contain stuff that is harmful to the baby while in utero, like retinol.

The best thing that I found (and trust me, I tried a LOT) was using a foundation that was one shade darker than my normal skin color. I use Revlon's Color Stay line (because I hate the mid-afternoon makeup fade) and the next shade up from my normal color was a perfect match for the discoloration on my face. I would blend the lighter color around my jawline so I didn't get a "mask" effect.

The good news is that once your hormones level back out, they will fade. If not, you can try some of the skin-lightening products to help fade them faster.

Good luck and congratulations on the new baby!

I would suggest that you go see an herbalist. There are some herbs that you should not take while pregnant, but there are many that may help, and I have seen miracles with herbs, such as moles going away, etc. It may be something that has to wait until your baby comes, but start gathering info right now.

If you want to study herbs on your own, there are lots of good sites available, such as herballegacy.com

There are a few herbs that will send you into labor, such as blue or black cohosh, or fenugreek. Raspberry leaf tea is a pregnancy herb that gently prepares for delivery.

I also thought first of the Mary Kay Even Complexion Essence. They also have a Day and Night Solution (sunscrean & antioxidants for protection in the day, vitamins to repair and renew at night) that can help create more even skin tone and reduce any scarring. You can find a consultant near you by going to www.marykay.com and entering your zip code (click on "shop with a consultant" first).
Good luck, and congratulations on your upcoming addition to your family!

My brown blotches started for me when I was on the pill. Then I got prego and they were even worse. Mine have never gone away and my doc said probably never will. They do lighten up, but they are for sure there. I am prego again and dreading being prego all summer. I know how bad they will get.
I have the mustache, raccoon eyes, heart shape one on my whole forehead, one over each eye and around my chin from ear to eat! It is not a pretty sight at all...
I also got that lovely linea negra up my belly that is SO dark and never lightened at all.

My doc said to me- welcome to being a mom! I was shocked to hear her say they would be with me forever! I am a light skinned person, but have Indian in my background and scar easily. So that combined makes me a target I guess.

My plan after this baby is born (last one) is to see a skin specialist and go from there. I know there are heavy duty creams and even laser treatments that can be done, however this all has to happen AFTER birth.

I don't have much advice other than to say you aren't alone! The best I can do now is use sun screen and lots of concealer. I know they don't really work, but better than facing the world will my fresh brown blotches :)
I hope you get some great advice and I can get some ideas! Good luck...

This hasn't happened to me, but I remember reading about this when I was pregnant. I think I read about it in "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer or "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin. What I remember reading was that American women and doctors treat this kind of melasma (I think that's the word), sometimes called "the mask of pregnancy,"--whether or not you get a full "mask" as a normal part of hormonal shifts, but for many women it's evidence of a vitamin B deficiency and it's treated in most other countries (with more evidence-based maternity care than the U.S.) It was so interesting. It's not super scary or life-threatening, so I don't mean to freak you out, but read some well-researched books such as the two I've mentioned--I just loved them; they helped me so much. I think Peggy O'Mara's book "Having a Baby, Naturally" would also mention it because it focuses a lot on excellent self-care while pregnant. I bet you will find something you can do to minimize the skin pigment changes. Hang in there, and congratulations!

These are progesterone lines. I got them on my face when I was pregnant and I looked like I had 5:00 shadow and a mustache. I never was able to find anything to make them go away. The mineral based concealer is the best cover up and you can get a number of brands at a grocery or drug store. I went to the doctor after my baby was born and went on the bio-identical hormones for progesterone and thyroid and finally the lines went away. Usually these lines show up in darker skinned people. The more a person gets out into the sun, the darker they get. You could try a hat with a wider brim. Your baby is almost here and then you can take a more proactive stance.

There are medications available for this problem (it's called Melasma) but they are unsafe to take during pregnancy. It is caused by how your skin pigmenting cells react to pregnancy hormones. Try using a sunscreen without a chemical base...a mineral based sunscreen (zinc, or titanium) should work better. Burts Bees has a great one that you can even find at Wal-Mart. Once you have your baby and are feeling up to it, try to get in to see a skin specialist or Dermatologist who may be able to suggest treatment such as a chemical peel, skin lightening creams, or laser treatment. While you are waiting, you could try to use a bleaching agent on your own...lemon juice (undiluted) left on the skin for several minutes can be a safe way to lighten on your own. I have no idea how exactly it would effect Melasma, though so this would be done at some risk. Also, Sally Hansen's cream bleach used for facial hair may be an option but check with your O.B. before using any OTC chemicals such as bleach during your pregnancy.

There's a product through Mary Kay (.com) that really helped me called Even Complexion Essence. It's hormonal though and will take a few weeks until you see some clearing of the spot, but it really does work!