Solutions for Pregnancy Mask / Melasma

Those mischievous pregnancy hormones are toying with you again, causing hyperpigmentation on many parts of your body. You might have noticed your freckles and moles are darker now, there's probably a dark line down the center of your abdomen (the linea nigra), and your areolas are probably a deeper shade as well. (You might as well decide this is sexy.) Dark-skinned women usually notice such hyperpigmentation more, but light-skinned women aren't off the hook completely - they too will get their fair share of darkening skin, though their mask of pregnancy may not be as noticeable.

Malasma During Pregnancy — What You Can Do About It

• Use products containing Vitamin C and safe for the stage of pregnancy or postpartum phase you are in. Preparations containing Botanicals are known to safely have skin brightening qualities. Ingredients include Kojic Acid and licorice extract. Vitamin C , is also considered highly effective.
• Apply a concealing makeup. If the pigmentation changes bother you, cover them up for now – don't use harsh skin-bleaching products while you're pregnant.
• Stay between the lines. No matter what you're using to treat your skin discoloration, lightening serums can't tell the difference between normal and abnormal skin tone, so you need to apply the product only to the affected area of discoloration.
• Eat foods that contain folic acid (you'll also get plenty in your prenatal supplement), since studies have shown that a folate deficiency can be related to hyperpigmentation. Good choices include green leafy vegetables, oranges, whole-wheat bread, and whole-grain cereal.
• Stay out of the sun as much as possible and wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 (sunlight can also intensify hyperpigmentation). A hat and long sleeves are a good idea if you're fair-skinned, headed to the beach, or have a historically sensitive complexion.