How Can I Remove my Pregnancy Mask?

Question

I have brown patches on my face like the pregnancy mask I had so many years ago. How can I make it go away? Also I have bags under my eyes and wrinkles as well, should I get Botox or a chemical peel?

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Laser skin treatments, peels and topical creams may help treat melasma. Sun exposure will make the condition worse, so please keep your skin protected.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

Before you attempt to treat lower eyelid wrinkles with chemical peels or fraxel laser, remember that your skin is prone to develop post inflammatory hyperpigmentation because of your melasma, or pigmentation, mask of pregnancy.  Any resurfacing treatment provides the risk of developing post inflammatory hyperpigmenation and as you are susceptible to this, you should not have a treatment without a test spot done or the most conservative settings employed. 

	Melasma can be treated with hydroquinone-containing medications but they are sometimes irritating, Lumixyl is also used, light chemical peels may be done periodically to decrease the barrier to penetration of the lightening creams.  Fraxel Dual, 1927 nm. laser can provide great improvement in some patients with hyperpigmentation.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

As the other doctors have said, Peels are probably going to be your best solution. Bags require a lower lid blepharoplasty and this is done thru an outer or inner incision.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi Donna.  You packed quite a few issues into this short question.  

	For Melasma, the pregnancy mask, we recommend high strength bleaching programs with hydroquinone.  Our programs vary between 6% - 8%, which is higher than the normal prescription.

	As for the bags under the eyes, we would either recommend a lower Blepharoplasty or Restylane injections depending on how loose the skin is.  

	Finally, Botox can be great for wrinkles, but it depends where they are on the face and whether they are cause by muscle contraction or not. Botox is great for areas of the face that have wrinkles caused by muscle activity.  The Botox relaxes the muscles, smoothing the wrinkles.  Good luck.

Dennis Gross, MD · Answer

We have different options, you can do a Retinol Peel or IPL to gently lift the pigment as well as at home products to work as maintenance to continue in prevention.For the wrinkles I recommend coming in for a consultation to see if your a candidate for Botox or Filler.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

The most important thing to do in order to prevent Melasma is to use a high degree of Sunscreen. Most cases could have been avoided with proper instruction of the photoprotection needed when pregnant. If you develop melasma, either from pregnancy or birth control pills there are a few very good treatments. A combination of retinoids, hydroquinones, bleaching agents, and topical chemical peels are usually the best treatment. The Fraxel Dual, using the 1927 has been successful in treating some cases of melasma as well. Once I correct the melasma, I caution all of my patients that the pigmentation can recur with new sun exposure. Proper sun protection after treatment is of the utmost importance.

Deborah Sarnoff, MD · Answer

Step 1 would be using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays, high in SPF (greater than 50) and protecting the face as much as possible, wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.

	Step 2 would be to wear a concealer or foundation on top of the sunscreen -- this will not only hide the discoloration but the main ingredient in foundation is titanium dioxide, which will act as a second layer of protection as a sunblock.

	Step 3 is to see a skilled dermatologist -- you may benefit from a series of light to medium peels, i.e., glycolic acid, sal acid (TCA) as well as a bleaching cream that contains hydroquinone.  Sometimes a laser or light source is helpful as an adjunct.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I assume you mean hyperpigmentation that occurred with pregnancy. This is called melasma and can be treated in many different ways. I usually offer my patients skin care products which will gradually lighten the areas.

Sam Goldberger, MD · Answer

Hi Donna.

	I agree with what has been said up until now.  Creams will help your pigmentation, and the bags would probably need surgery, depending on how bad the bags are.  In terms of your wrinkles, possibly a chemical peel or laser would do the trick.  If you will have laser for the wrinkles, you might want to consider lasering your whole face and then the pigmentation could be treated that way as well.  With a proper consultation, the physician could go through all your options.

Theodore Diktaban, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Botox is not going to help with any discoloration that has resulted from pregnancy.  This "mask" is called melasma and the best treatment would be a skin care regimine designed for this purpose.

How Can I Remove my Pregnancy Mask?

Answers (14)

More Botox Questions

Permanent Paralysis w/ Long-Term Botox Use?

What Do Doctors Do with the Remaining Botox when They Only Use 10-15 Units from a 50 Unit "Single-unit" Vial of Botox?

Botox Masseter Reduction in the Bay Area, CA?

Botox Didn't Work for Eye Wrinkles - Should I Get Fillers?

Could I Have Post-Botox Side Effects Due to Taking Gabapentin?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS