embarassing facial skin pigmentation

[Dimples]

I'm feeling a bit alarmed that I can't find any reference to my problem here on Mumsnet. During both my pregnancies I developed faint brown pigmentation between my eyebrows and on my top lip - just like a moustache! it got much worse during the summer and although it has faded, is still there 1 year after the birth of my dd2.
Has anyone else had this happen and is there anything I can do? I want to get pregnant again and although i'm really not vain at all, I feel terribly self-concious about it. Make up isn't really the answer for me as i don't wear it and I tried a cream called fade-out but didn't notice any change.
Thanks for any of your comments or advice!

[Ghosty]

My friend had this Dimples ... quite obviously when she was pg and it lasted for at least a year after the birth of her son. I am afraid I don't think there is much you can do about it ... just cover it with make up ... but it will fade eventually ...
It is the same thing that causes the linea negra on your tummy ... mine was very dark and didn't go until DS was 12 months ... also I have a very faint birth mark on my tummy that went very dark and obvious in pregnancy ... it is beginning to show up already and I am only 7 weeks gone!!
HTH a bit ... probably not though ...

[Oakmaiden]

It is fairly common - and as Ghosty says is related to the linea negra. If it happened last time, then I think it will almost certainly happen again next time, sadly, as it has to do with your skin type/pigmentation. I very luckily didn't get iton my face, but pretty much my whole chest and stomach changed colour last itme I was pregnant - and I yesterday noticed that my breasts are starting to change colour this time too. Not as problemsonme as on your face though.

Sadly it is just a matter of try to cover it up (I seem to remember that sunshine makes it worse - or I might be makiong that bit up!) and it will go eventually.

[tilba]

You are right Oakmaiden, UV certainly makes it worse. I had chloasma quite severely, a complete butterfly mark over my face which lasted 3 years as I had concurrent pregnancies!
I was amazed how many people pointed it out to me....total strangers etc. Did make me wonder about people with burns, birthmarks etc.
I was pretty religious about wearing sunblock daily, just used it instead of moisturiser.
It bothered my GP more than me and she got me to see a dermatologist who prescibed a pretty mean fading cream. I can't recall what it was...I'll have a hunt for the pot. It is usually prescribed for those brown spots that appear on your face and hands. It's powerful and had to be used very sparingly. Was also precribed VIT C liquid which helped somehow the cream to penetrate.
After just a few weeks my butterfly had completely gone ....
I think skin types make a big difference as to whether you get chloasma or not.
I think the only thing for you to do is to use total block out starting before you get pregnant and consider using makeup if it really bothers you. Goodluck

[Dimples]

Thanks for your comments. Tilba, I'd be really interested to hear what you were prescribed. Also good now to know the medical term so i can now find more info.
Surprisingly I never had a linea negra at all so didn't make that connection.

[tilba]

Found it...it's called hydroquinone. I only was able to use it at night but I think that was because I'm in Asia and the UV was too strong during the day. Anyway I found it enough to use once a day.
I also meant to say "a few months" NOT weeks. Sorry Dimples! It really does take time to disappear.
The main thing really is to avoid the sun. Find the highest UV protection you can.
I know you can use laser as my GP had just bought one and was keen to test it! I think I would try a bleaching agent first.

[pupuce]

I had it with my 2nd pregnancy but not my first. We have dicsussed here before but can't remember where.
Avoid the sun as it will make it worst... sorry it's my only advice

[SueW]

I have it on my forehead without pregnancy! It's taken over my forehead almost completely. Not hugely noticeable yet but this thread made me go and look it up on the net and I see sun avoidance is good. I slather factor 15 moisturiser on daily anyway - looks like I'll be stepping up to 35 or 50 and wearing a hat too.

I'm not a great fan of suntans anyway so it won't be a great loss. Unfortunately, my skin darkens really easily so I will be interested to see what happens this summer.