| Have you ever wondered why pregnant women get | | | | pregnant women experiences the darkening of the |
| darker skin pigmentation during their pregnancy? The | | | | skin tone during pregnancy. Moreover, one third of |
| darkening pigmentation, called chloasma or the mask | | | | women who took birth control pills or oral |
| of pregnancy (also known as melasma), is associated | | | | contraceptives have the same skin changes because |
| with the female hormones estrogen and | | | | of the amount of estrogen and progesterone intake |
| progesterone. This may also be attributed to race, | | | | during birth control.Since skin discoloration is not just |
| because women who have darker skin tones are | | | | for pregnant women, can we in any ways avoid |
| more prone to skin changes. The skin disorder is very | | | | masked by chloasma? Check out the following tips:1. |
| common especially for those young women with | | | | Protection against the sun is still the leading |
| brownish skin tones and is characterized by tan or | | | | prevention against chloasma. We still need sun |
| brown blotches in the face.Although chloasma is just | | | | exposure, best in the early morning but sun exposure |
| a common skin disorder, this can be a real cosmetic | | | | from midday? Think twice! Make sure that you do |
| issue for women because the discoloration of the | | | | not expose yourself to sun more often than |
| skin is found on the sun-exposed area of the face. | | | | necessary.2. You can use sunscreen everyday as this |
| This also affects the face symmetrically, particularly in | | | | also prevents skin cancer and wrinkles. Use |
| the cheeks, nose, forehead and upper lip. For | | | | sunscreens with broad-spectrum protection or against |
| pregnant women, the skin brownish blotches appears | | | | both UVA and UVB rays. Use protection not only |
| in their forearms and other body areas that are | | | | during sunny days but whenever you are outdoors. |
| exposed to the sun. Also, pregnancy increases | | | | Apply strong sunscreen if you are outdoors. Make |
| melanin production that is why pregnant women are | | | | use of even a handy umbrella, it is your last option |
| more exposed to skin discoloration especially at the | | | | when all shades are gone.3. You may try using |
| latter stage of the pregnancy period. Further, studies | | | | concealing make-ups. Another options are the skin |
| show that 70% of pregnant women are affected | | | | care products that have combination of tretinoin |
| with chloasma. In fact, three out of the four | | | | cream or bleaching creams that contain hydroquinone. |