Thank you for your question and excellent description of your condition. Without seeing you, I would say that what you have described is a condition commonly known as Melasma. It is most often seen on the face, especially the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, but it can also appear on the neck and forearms. Melasma, which is also sometimes called Chloasma, is a common skin condition whereby light to dark brown or greyish patches of pigmentation develop on the skin. It is often a reminder for many women of their pregnancy, though according to the British Association of Dermatologists about 10% of all people who will develop Melasma are men. Melasma is a complex condition to understand but it is known there are certain definite triggers, pregnancy being one. Medicine intended to regulate hormone levels, such as the contraceptive pill, or conditions resulting from a hormone imbalance, can also increase the likelihood of Melasma occurring. It is not possible to eliminate the visible effects of Melasma entirely, but it is possible to significantly reduce its size or colour. While some people will prefer to use camouflage make-up to even out their skin tone, others may prefer a more interventionist approach. In my clinic I prefer to use a combined approach of chemical skin peels as well as non-ablative lasers. The laser that I use to treat Melasma is SRAplus, which uses a combination of intense pulsed light (IPL) and bi-polar radio frequency (RF). All skin types can be treated and improvement will be noticeable within a few weeks. There is no downtime associated with the treatment, except avoiding the sun immediately afterwards, and which will also be necessary on an ongoing basis. For anyone considering treatment with a laser, it is always important to check the professional qualifications and experience of the person who will be doing the treatment. Always ensure that your treatment is taking place in a professional medical environment. Once you have the visible signs of Melasma, it is important to stay away from the sun (including when sitting next to windows), as exposure to visible light (which includes computer screen time) can make the appearance of Melasma worse. Whenever possible avoid sun exposure during the hours of 11am to 3pm when the sun’s rays are at their strongest, wear high strength SPF UVA and UVB products (at least SPF 30 but preferably 50), and wear a wide brimmed hat. I hope that this has been helpful and wish you the best of luck with managing your condition. With my best wishes, Dr Haus.