How to Treat Pregnancy Mask

Pregnancy mask, or melasma, can occur while you are pregnant. It is a bothersome condition where the skin on the face has hyperpigmentation, or dark patches. Stress during pregnancy can perpetuate the condition, but it is mostly caused by a genetic disposition. Women of color are at a higher risk for developing pregnancy mask. The discoloration should go away on its own in the months after delivery, but if you are having a problem with it, there are a few things you can do to treat melasma to expedite healing.

Things You'll Need

• Facial mask
• Chemical peel
• Laser
• Sunscreen

Instructions

1. Ask your dermatologist to perform a chemical peel on your skin. A chemical peel effectively burns away the top layer of skin, thereby removing the overpigmented splotches. It can take a few days for your skin to recover from a chemical peel, so expect the condition to look worse before it gets better.

2. Ask about laser treatments with your dermatologist. A laser can be used to concentrate on the dark spots on your skin to lighten them while they are healing. This is the fastest and most effective way to deal with pregnancy mask.

3. For at home treatment, use a spa-grade facial mask. A gel-peeling mask is the best choice. Let it sit on your skin for 10 minutes, and then gently peel it off, removing dead skin cells and stimulating new cell growth.

4. Always wear sunscreen when you go out in the sun, especially if you already know you have a genetic risk for melasma. UVA and UVB rays can stimulate pigment production and make pregnancy mask worse. Wear hats and sunglasses while in the sun so as to not aggravate the condition.