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Skin problems during or after pregnancy
Dark skin patches
Skin sensitive to sun
Skin discoloration
Tanned skin on the face
Skin darkening
Skin pigmentation due to sunlight exposure
Dark spots on the skin
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
Also known as "mask of pregnancy" or "melasma", this condition features dark, tan skin patches, often on the face, that worsen under sunlight. It can be caused by pregnancy, hormone therapies, and oral contraceptive pills.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
This condition may disappear after pregnancy but can return later. Creams or a clinic procedure can lighten the affected skin. Avoiding sunlight and wearing sunscreen is helpful.
Reviewed By:
Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD (Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN))
Dr. Kanazawa graduated from the Niigata University Faculty of Medicine and received his Ph.D. from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. He is working on the front line of the General Perinatal Center, including the Tokyo Tama General Medical Center and the National Center for Research in Fertility Medicine, where he provides maternal and fetal care and undertakes clinical research. At Ubie, Dr. Kanazawa has been designing the Ubie AI Symptom Checker and has taken on the role of general obstetrics and gynecology consultation at FMC Tokyo Clinic by providing fetal ultrasound and prenatal consultation.
Content updated on Feb 3, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Q.
Hyperpigmentation After 30: Medical Causes & Your Action Plan
A.
Hyperpigmentation after 30 is most often due to sun damage, hormonal melasma, or post-inflammatory changes, but medications and rarer conditions like Addison's disease or hemochromatosis can also be responsible. There are several factors to consider, and red flags like a changing or bleeding spot or pigmentation with fatigue or weight loss should prompt a doctor visit. Your action plan starts with daily SPF and sun protection, then evidence-based topicals such as hydroquinone, retinoids, or azelaic acid while addressing triggers and considering professional treatments; see the complete steps and precautions below so you do not miss details that could change your next move.
References:
* Rendon M, Chaowadirek I, Guttman-Yassky E, Goyal N. Classification of skin hyperpigmentation: a comprehensive review. J Cutan Pathol. 2021 Feb;48(2):247-259. doi: 10.1111/cup.13840. Epub 2020 Nov 9. PMID: 33179261.
* Bellew SG, DeLong LK, Lee KC, Kohli I, Davis PM. Melasma: a review of the pathogenesis and current treatment modalities. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2022 Nov;35(6):630-642. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.13063. Epub 2022 Oct 11. PMID: 36224765.
* Loo C, Phongsakorn W, Sirithanabadeekul P, Boersma S, Maalouf S, Manoharan S. Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation: A Review of Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Options. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021 Jul 1;20(7):727-734. doi: 10.36849/JDD.6053. PMID: 34237199.
* Munteanu R, Popa I, Pui A. Epidermal hyperpigmentation: A concise review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Jul;22(7):2020-2028. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15822. Epub 2023 May 31. PMID: 37265219.
* Rodrigues M, Rocha L, Pires A, Sousa C. A Comprehensive Review of the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Hyperpigmentation. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021 Oct;14(10):E53-E65. Epub 2021 Oct 1. PMID: 34745815; PMCID: PMC8576435.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1Handel AC, Miot LD, Miot HA. Melasma: a clinical and epidemiological review. An Bras Dermatol. 2014 Sep-Oct;89(5):771-82. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20143063. PMID: 25184917; PMCID: PMC4155956.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4155956/McKesey J, Tovar-Garza A, Pandya AG. Melasma Treatment: An Evidence-Based Review. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020 Apr;21(2):173-225. doi: 10.1007/s40257-019-00488-w. PMID: 31802394.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31802394/Fariyal Hoque, John McGrath, Syed Ebeny Shaude. Melasma (Chloasma): Pathogenesis and Treatment. Journal of Biotechnology and Biomedicine 5 (2022): 236-243.
https://www.fortunejournals.com/articles/melasma-chloasma-pathogenesis-and-treatment.html