Brown patches on hands

[OhWhatAPalaver]

The backs of my hands look like someone has put blobs of fake tan on them! Only about 6 patches or so but still weird... Anyone else had this? I'm 23 weeks.

[Sanch1]

I've read about this, its normal. It can also happen on your face, but I think it goes after pregnancy.

[sambababy]

You don't live anywhere sunny do you?

[outputgap]

It's called the mask of pregnancy when it's on your face. I think the advice is to wear a moisturiser with a high spf to try to prevent it. It does go.

[Junosmum]

It's called melasma, hyperpigmentation common in pregnancy, thought to be a reaction to UV light so more common in pregnant women who Sun bathe/ go on holiday/ use tanning beds but can occur in pregnant women who don't do those things. It should clear after you deliver. In the meantime use suncream (even in Britain) on all exposed areas of skin to minimise it. You'll likely have to use high factor Sun cream in summer and on holiday too as it can come back when exposed to lots of Sun even when not pregnant.

My mum had this in pregnancy, seems to have skipped me thankfully.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Thanks for the replies, glad to hear it's normal. I'll be whacking on the suncream come summer time!

[OhWhatAPalaver]

I don't live anywhere sunny and don't use sunbeds btw. Not been on holiday since being pg either. Manchester is pretty chilly right now but still got them...

[Donnadoon]

I developed a form of vertiligo which is white patches on my face, they can be brown too, unfortunately they havnt gone away but are not that noticeable only to me fortunately.

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

I've got it on my boobs-totally normal

[Missingcaffeine]

I have this in pregnancy, but sadly for me its on my face - around eyes and above top lip! :(
I wear factor 50 on my face even when it's not sunny now, as one day in April in my last pregnancy, when it really wasn't hot I was walking outside for 30 mins in the sun with just my makeup (spf 15) and by the end of the day the patches were really dark.
It also continued throughout breastfeeding.
There's an amazing factor 50 face cream for the face that is tinted and you only have to apply once, and compared to others it really isn't too bad at making the skin greasy:
www.amazon.co.uk/SunSense-Daily-Invisible-Finish-Sunscreen/dp/B000KHVKAW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1456490558&sr=8-6&keywords=suncream%20factor%2050&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Junosmum]

I'm also in Manchester OP.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Ooh a fellow northerner! waves
Which bit are you in?

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Thanks for the suncream link btw, that'll be useful come warmer weather (if we ever get any...)

[DrunkenUnicorn]

I've also got this on my boobs, I promise I haven't been whipping them out to catch the sun!

My freckles on my face have also got more pronounced- as if I'd been in the sun.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

I've got it on my boobs too but that happened with my first so wasn't too concerned, it was odd finding it on my hands though...