Pregnancy Mask Explained: Causes and Remedies

Pregnancy mask or melasma is a condition that many women live with whilst they are pregnant and even after they have given birth. Some women believe that it is a condition that only affects them during their pregnancy, but it can last longer than that. Pregnancy mask causes dark patches of skin to form on the face and other parts of the body. It can be an embarrassing condition to deal with and affect a woman's self-esteem and image of themselves. As if pregnant women are not under enough strain from having to carry a baby, pregnancy mask can make pregnancy a lot less enjoyable and add stress to the mother. Therefore, learning how to treat it, what causes it and how to prevent it is a good idea so that the embarrassment can become a thing of the past. The information below will tell you all about melasma and what treatment options there are.

When suffering from pregnancy mask it is important to understand the causes of it and the remedies so that you are able to treat it. Once you understand more about pregnancy mask you will be able to make changes to your diet and lifestyle that will hopefully prevent or treat it.

Pregnancy can be a time of great changes in the body and extra hormones are created, some of these hormones, especially estrogen can lead to hyper-pigmentation. Hyper-pigmentation causes dark uneven spots on the face especially around the forehead, cheeks and mouth.

The hormones that cause pregnancy mask are Melanocyte-stimulating hormones, caused as a direct result of sunlight to the face. The skin creates a pigment called melanin to protect from the damage of the harmful UV rays that can lead to cancer.

Therefore, limiting sunbathing time or wearing a higher factor sunscreen will help. Try to wear clothes that will help detract the sun and stay away from anything black as this attracts the sun. Wear a sun hat whilst out and about, especially a wide brimmed one as this will help protect the face and neck. When applying suncream always take care to cover the face and use a higher factor whilst pregnant. Try to buy a waterproof suncream so you don't have to reapply it if you go swimming.

It is far better to prevent a condition occuring than to treat it once it is already there. Read the information below to find out how to prevent pregnancy mask through balancing hormones and eating a healthy diet.

The imbalance of hormones is a massive factor in pregnancy mask. It's not the only reason, but it is an important one. If your hormones were already out of sync before you became pregnant you are more at risk of it. 

When trying to get pregnant make sure your hormones are balanced and that you are in good health. Balanced hormones will help increase your chances of getting pregnant and reduce the risk of getting pregnancy mask. Even if you haven't balanced your hormones before pregnancy, balancing them during pregnancy can still reduce your chances of getting pregnancy mask. So, check out your hormones and see if they are balanced, if not you can do something about it.

When trying to reduce the risk of pregnancy mask start from the inside out. Therefore, eating a real food diet will not only make you feel good it will also help to produce the hormones you need.

Eat a nutritious diet from grass fed and pastured animals, organic produce and good fats, pastured butter and avocado. Eat 3 balanced meals a day and never skip a meal, especially during pregnancy. To produce hormones and work well our bodies require saturated and monounsaturated fats. You find these in oily foods like olives, fatty fish, nuts and seeds to name a few. It is also a good idea to stop eating refined sugar and reduce natural sugars.

During pregnancy you need to take care of yourself better than you ever have before, since you are also in effect, caring for your baby. If there is something wrong with mother, then the baby may suffer as a result.

If you are trying for a baby or even if you are pregnant, try to avoid using cleaning supplies as these are high in toxins. Avoid using products containing toxins like beauty products, plastic and pesticides. Products like these increase hormone levels which is not good.

Your body repairs itself during sleep, but if you are not getting enough sleep or having a broken night's sleep, then your body will not be able to repair itself properly. It might be difficult to get to sleep whilst pregnant and getting comfortable can be tricky. 

Getting enough sleep will make a huge difference. Your body will not work properly if you are not getting enough sleep and it is never too late to start a healthy sleeping routine.

A pregnancy cushion for the bump really helps to make sure you are comfortable. If you haven't got a specialized pregnancy pillow an ordinary pillow will suffice. Try to have a relaxing bath before bedtime and a nigh-time drink.

Although it is a little unusual to have pregnancy mask after your baby is born, it is still possible. It can be frustrating that it never went away after giving birth, but there are still treatments you can use that will help pregnancy mask.

There are a lot of topical medicines that help the different stages of melasma. Hydroquinone is the most commonly prescribed one. It works by lightening the dark patches on your skin. However, over time the use of hydroquinone can cause side effects like blue-black pigmentation and lightening of the epidermis.

Kojic acid is composed of fungi and helps to lighten the dark patches on your face. Topical steroids can also be used alongside hydroquinone to slow down melanin production. Other treatments that are less intense include chemical peels, light lamps and laser therapy. Whilst these treatments are not safe during pregnancy, you can use them after-wards if you are having problems getting rid of pregnancy mask. Always consult your doctor before trying different therapies, especially if you are not sure of whether it would be good for you.

You may be wondering what happens if Pregnancy Mask does not go away on your face, but there are still things you can do. There are still ways you can treat Melasma, in fact there are more options open to you after you have given birth than when you were pregnant because you can now use different vitamins and herbal rememdies or get medication from your doctor.

If you find that Melasma simply won't go away no matter what you do it might be worth visiting your doctor or pharmacist. Alternatively you could try the remedies below first and if they don't work visit your doctor.

The majority of women find that pregnancy mask or Melasma will go away within 3 to 6 months of giving birth. However, women who breastfeed may find that it takes longer due to the increase of hormones needed to produce breast-milk. There is a small minority of women who find that it never goes away.

Although Melasma is a frustrating and embarrassing condition with proper understanding of what causes it and how to treat it you can help reduce the effects of it.

The woman may have to learn to apply make-up to cover over the patches and camouflage them. 

Lowering sun exposure helps a lot of women when fading the dark patches.

Wear sunscreen when out in the sun as this will help to protect the skin and limit the chances of it getting worse.

Vitamin A can help skin shed faster and help with the reduction of pregnancy mask.

There are creams that can be used to lighten the skin and facial peels that can be applied. Also check that your birth control is not changing your hormone levels as this can have an impact on whether you will suffer from pregnancy mask.

Pregnancy mask is an uncomfortable part of being pregnant for many women. Whilst some women get it less severe, there are others who suffer very severely. Still many women do not seek help as they are too embarrassed to discuss it with their health adviser. It is good to see that there is help out there and hopefully this article will help you see that you are not alone. Nobody has to suffer in silence and there are ways of dealing with this annoying skin complaint. You may have to look at areas of your diet and lifestyle to ensure you are making the right decisions and staying as healthy as possible. The use of vitamins, exercise, healthy sleep and a good diet can all help. The treatment for pregnancy mask is holistic in its approach, looking at all areas of your body and lifestyle, then making healthy changes.