Skin Darkening During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the happiest experiences in a woman’s lifetime and while you do enjoy this lovely phase, there are of course some side effects that pregnancy brings in its wake. Now, not everyone enjoys the ‘pregnancy glow’, some women face skin-related issues as well. One of the most common issues among them is skin darkening or pigmentation which mars your happiness. However, skin darkening during pregnancy is quite common and is most likely a temporary skin change during pregnancy.

Pregnant women undergo a range of changes both physically and emotionally. Pregnant women are more than likely to experience skin discoloration during any stage of their pregnancy. Up to 90% of women report experiencing some degree of skin discoloration. It does not usually appear overnight, but rather gradually as the pregnancy progresses. The good news is that it is only a cosmetic issue and your unborn child will not be harmed by it.

In This Article

• What Are These Dark Spots On My Skin?
• What Causes Darkening Of The Skin During Pregnancy?
• Can I Prevent Skin Darkening During Pregnancy?
• 7 Natural Home Remedies To Treat Chloasma
• Is Chemical Peel Treatment Safe For Combating Chloasma?
• Skin Darkening During Pregnancy-Treatments To Omit 
• How Long Does The “Mask Of Pregnancy” Stays After Delivery?
• FAQ’s

What Are These Dark Spots On My Skin?

Medically termed as Chloasma, these blotches of dark skin are commonly referred to as the “mask of pregnancy”. These splotches appear around one’s cheekbones, upper lips, and forehead and often resemble a mask’s shape. This is indeed something that makes a woman quite apprehensive about how to handle this issue and how soon her skin will return to normalcy.

These splotches normally appear either in the first or second trimester of one’s pregnancy and may increase with each pregnancy. Women with darker skin tones are more likely to get it than women who have lighter skin tones.

What Causes Darkening Of The Skin During Pregnancy?

Apart from the face, you would have noticed other areas in your body getting darker as well. Your nipples, freckles on the skin, old scars, and the skin of your genitals may all appear to be getting darker. Your underarms and inner thighs, which are objects of friction, may appear darker too.

This condition is mostly caused by-

• Hormonal changes that occur during the pregnancy phase trigger a temporary hike in melanin production. Melanin is the natural content that provides color to eyes, skin, and hair.
• Exposure to the sun’s rays.
• Hereditary factors.
• Darker skin women have more chances of developing skin pigmentation than those who are light-skinned.

Can I Prevent Skin Darkening During Pregnancy?

Although in most cases, there is nothing much that can be done to avert this issue, there are some precautionary measures that can be adopted in order to avert this condition. They include:

• Dab yourself with sunscreen with an SPF of a minimum 15 at least, before stepping out during the day
• Make sure only to use cosmetics and creams that are free of fragrance and oil apart from being extra mild. Avoid the use of products that irritate your skin
• It is good to always adorn clothes that are full sleeved when going out
• Folic acid deficiency is known to trigger hyperpigmentation. So make sure to include foods rich in folic acid like leafy veggies and fruits

7 Natural Home Remedies To Treat Chloasma

Skin pigmentation changes usually go away with pregnancy, while some women may have to deal with them for a longer time. Anyhow, you can relax as there are some wonderful home remedies that have been proven to be extremely effective in treating Chloasma during pregnancy. They are-

1. Applying the juice of one lime on the pigmented areas twice daily will surely help to get rid of this issue within a month or two.
2. Applying apple cider vinegar is yet another simple home remedy that is quite effective to combat pigmentation issues during pregnancy.
3. Dabbing horseradish paste on the pigmented splotches for around fifteen minutes and washing with water that is lukewarm is another natural remedy for this problem.
4. Make a pulp out of a banana and apply this on pigmented splotches to get rid of your dark spots. It also effective in making your skin supple and bright.
5. You could also try applying aloe Vera juice or gel on these pigmented areas as this is yet another sure and effective home remedy for pigmentation issues.
6. There are a variety of essential oils like lavender and tea tree oil that are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins and have been proven to be excellent for all kinds of skin issues.
7.  Grapefruit seed is packed with antioxidants and vitamin C that is excellent to combat pigmentation issues if applied on a regular basis.

All these natural and home remedies are helpful in removing these pigmentation blotches to an extent. You just need to choose some remedy that is easily available and comfortable for you at this phase and lo beholds, you can get rid of these blotches very soon.

You can even get glowing skin during pregnancy with these simple tips.

Is Chemical Peel Treatment Safe For Combating Chloasma?

If the skin pigmentation does not return to normal a few months after the delivery and becomes bothersome for you, you can talk to your dermatologist for any treatments that may suit you. Chemical peel treatments are not advisable during pregnancy.

Skin Darkening During Pregnancy-Treatments to Omit

If you are breastfeeding or plan to get pregnant again soon, make sure you mention this to your doctor. But you need to be aware that all the below-mentioned treatments are totally unsafe for you during this sensitive phase.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peel treatments comprise of chemical substances that can get into your blood stream and straight into your fetus causing all kinds of harm to you and your unborn child. So it is imperative you steer clear of any kind of chemical treatments to do away with pigmentation is issues

Treatment of Laser

Laser treatment is also a big no during the pregnancy period. This is because of the risk of hiking all kinds of skin irritations due to such laser treatments.

Ointments And Creams

Also, do not try out any prescribed creams or ointments for skin pigmentation problems as the majority of these ointments comprise of nonphenolic bleaching products, kojic acid, and azelaic acid which a pregnant lady can no way use during this period.

So make sure you stick to home remedies that are absolutely safe to treat this condition. And also remember this issue normally fades away on its own after giving birth in most cases. Just give it some time and you will surely regain your normal skin as time passes by.

How Long Does The “Mask Of Pregnancy” Stays After Delivery?

After delivery, it usually takes time for the skin to become what it was before. However, expecting instant results may disappoint you, sometimes it takes months to see any improvement. Some women may even get skin discolorations from contraceptives that contain estrogen. In such a case, do talk about birth control options after delivery with your doctor.

FAQ’s

1. Does Skin Darkening Go Away After Pregnancy?

After your hormone levels have returned to normal, your body will cease creating as much skin pigment, and any dark spots that appeared during pregnancy should go away. It may take a few weeks or months.

2. Does Folic Acid Make Your Skin Darker?

A lack of folic acid may also cause hyperpigmentation. Folate is a B vitamin, and folic acid is its accessible form . Lack of this essential component has been linked to skin darkening.