Melasma and pregnancy – will the pregnancy make it worse?

Dr. Irwin
June 3, 2012
I just quit taking my birth control which I had been on for two years because I developed melasma on my forehead and upper lip. I am 26 and my husband and I have been considering having a baby. I was wondering if I developed this because of my birth control how bad would the melasma get during the pregnancy? Also since I developed melasma because of bc and it did get worse during pregnancy would it go away after the pregnancy? I did see a dermetologist and he said it was a mild case but would get worse if I didn't use sunblock. Please help -I'm not sure I want to get pregnant because of this.

Dearest Readers –  I’m taking a lot of melasama questions deliberately right now because this is the time (Northern Hemisphere) where it is almost always getting worse because we are about a month from the summer soltice.  Remember in the Southern Hemisphere (South America, Australia, much of Asia, etc.)  the seasons are reversed. 

So, I’m so glad you’ve already seen a dermatolgist about the melasma.   The oral contraceptives do make it worse usually and your doctor is right to make sure you’re on a sunblock (Here are my sunscreen recommendations).  There are a number of other things you can also do so go to this melasma article for more details. 

Ladies –  I would never comment on when the right time for a pregnancy is -too many factors involved!!!   If you are pregnant in the summer though, please religiously follow the recommendations to limit it’s progression.  And don’t forget that you cannot use hydroquinones (Triluma, Epiquin Micro, special compounds from your doc) if you are pregnant!!   Also, here are other readers blog questions/answers on melasma.  Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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