I have a patchy face …
Yes for the first time ever I have actually vocalised this and I had been scared. Previously every time I had thought of saying it out loud I buried my head in the proverbial sand and cringed, but there you have it ……..
I HAVE A PATCHY FACE!
During my second pregnancy I developed what I can only describe as patchy suntan, it developed high on my cheek bones and a patch on my forehead. To start with it was just a slight darkening but of over time it has got darker and during the Summer months when its exposed to sun regardless of how much sun cream I used it gets very noticeable .. although I do try to cover it with some very technically slapped on make up but even then I have been pretty unsuccessful.
I spent the summers feeling like a freak and not really understanding what it was or how I would get it to disappear for good. I panicked and I was terrified, even beginning to stress that it was far more sinister than I had given it credit for, but yet I still refused to ask my GP what it was.
Finally after nearly 2 years I plucked up the courage to ask the GP who in all fairness explained that what I have is in fact 3 large patches of Melasma.
So what is Melasma? according to Wikipedia – “Melasma are dark, irregular well demarcated hyper-pigmented molecules to patches commonly found on the upper cheek, nose, lips, upper lip, and forehead. These patches often develop gradually over time. Melasma does not cause any other symptoms beyond the cosmetic discolouration. Melasma is also common in pre-menopausal women. It is thought to be enhanced by surges in certain hormones”
Can my melasma ever be cured?
As I understand it there is no cure for melasma, however there are several treatment options which may help lighten the pigmentation of the skin depending on the depth of the darkened pigmentation.
How can I treat my melasma?
- Avoid known trigger factors such as, sunshine, the contraceptive pill or even cosmetics/make-up’s.
- Using full sun blocks on the face with UVA and UVB protection
- lightening agents of the skin
- Dermabrasion and laser treatment or even Chemical peels
- Cosmetic camouflages and makeup
I am beginning to dread the Summer months already, even though it was my favourite season …. full shade and covering my face will be the order of the day for me, presuming of course that we will have some sun, if we do I will be the one under the umbrella with a giant sun hat and a white mask of suncream (50+ obviously) …… sulking!
Joy oh joy!
For further information on melasma you can find some helpful links here:
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Chloasma-(Melasma)
http://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/SkinInformation/AtoZofSkindisease/Melasma
I just wanted to say that it doesn’t look unattractive in any way! You’ve got a beautiful face and the melasma doesn’t change that at all! Don’t stress about covering up, I’m sure the only person in the whole world who cares is you 🙂
awww thank you Amy, I think its because i know its there It makes if feels so much worse x
Oh lovely that must be really hard, but honestly from the pictures it doesn’t look bad at all – although I know it’s easy to say that when it’s not you it’s happened to! I use camouflage makeup, it might be worth a try just to see how you find it? I find it a faff to be honest and rarely use it anymore unless I’m having a self concious day… but I know people who wear it every day and say they get used to it really quickly and become really fast at applying it x
I think i am going to look into some kind of camouflage make up most days i am bothered by it but not enough to stop me doing things on a bad day i just dont go out. x
Oh hun! it really doesn’t look as bad as you fear. My mum has it too, though I didn’t know it’s official name until now, and it’s just part of her now.
I hope it doesn’t stop you enjoying the sunshine, if it ever appears! xx
awww thanks honey, i think because its on my face i feel all the more self concious about it .. at this rate i wont have to worry as i dont remember seeing sunshine lol
Poor you! I think you’d look very stylish in a large brimmed hat. I have the opposite problem on my back. I have areas of no pigment that ate just white. It’s not a problem cosmetically but I have to be extra careful as they get burnt really easily.
wow its funny you should say that i have a couple of areas on my back that are like that but they are only about the size of a coin so and being on my back i dont tend to stress about them as much. I think a large floppy hat may be stylish .. i will have to look 🙂
Hi Lovely,
I have this too. I first developed it when pregnant with Danny, then it got worse with each subsequent pregnancy. It always gets worse in the Summer and Dave starts worrying that I’m pregnant again!
I have to admit that as I don’t see it I often forget about it until well meaning folks question it or my kids point to it! lol.
I hope that by using sunblock ours doesn’t get too bad this Summer (we really do deserve some sunshine, don’t we?!) and think of the wrinkles we’ll be preventing too! 🙂
Great post which I’m sure will help people who are discovering that they have this.
love
Claire
xxx
awww thank you Claire, as awful as this might sound i am feeling relieved that i am not alone!! mine is getting darker each year/ I have to say Claire that i had not thought about the lack of wrinkles if we are using lots of sun block … i like it!! x
It’s not as prominent as you think, but thanks for sharing information about this condition.
awww thanks honey xxx
What a brave post. I can honestly say it’s not noticeable. I think you are always more aware than everyone else. I had something similar when I was pregnant with baby girl, but it disappeared afterwards. This is really great information to share. You are beautiful inside and out honey x
awww thanks Susan, it sounds like you had the same thing, i though mine was going o go after Joshua was born but it never completely went although it is better than when i was pregnant
Great post Jaime! You are still as beautiful as ever but it is hard when it’s happening to ourselves. I suffer from VERY red blotchy face, so I am never without a layer or FIVE of coverup on my face. It’s hard when it’s our face because we can only hide it so much. I totally understand it. You are so strong to say something about it. I would have just thought you been on holiday. 😉 I hope it lessens as time goes on. I think we are always going to be more harsh on ourselves than what others actually see.
It takes real courage to talk about what makes us feel vulnerable. I have something similar on my body and whilst no one sees it, I know it’s there and every few months I mourn my prior self. Thank you for this #AllAboutYou post, I hope it brings some acceptance to share it with others and know that you are deeply touching others that needs to know they’re not on their own!
You still look very lovely Jaime! I also have a patch of melasma, I’ve had it for about ten years now, maybe more. It’s right in the middle of my cheek, funnily enough, right where I used to dot on a beauty spot back in the day. I had it zapped once, but I never went back for more treatments, I’ve kind of grown to love it. And on the sunblock front… I always wear high factor on my face, believe me, we’ll be the ones looking most far removed from crocodile handbags in decades to come! If you miss the colour, fake it! Thanks so much for linking up to #AllAboutYou
Oh Jaime, what a brave post – and you know, as always these are things we notice about our own bodies far more so than anyone else does, and it is how you feel about yourself that matters; you know your body before, and it’s not easy to accept change. I have to say that I didn’t notice at all when we met briefly last year at that BritMums dinner, but if you go down the stylish 70s floppy hat look, or the camouflage makeup route (there are full on ones, I used one from MAC to hide my tattoo when I got married) , go with whatever makes you happy and comfortable. Thank you and bless you for writing this and linking to #AllAboutYou xx
awww thank you honey it think it sure is more about how we see ourselves .. those top pictures were at britmums live last year when i was trying to cover it xx