Moustache shadow .. with photo :-(

[Glitterzzz]

I know this might not sound a big problem to a lot of people but I have a constant female moustache shadows on my upper lips. I don’t even have a problem with hair it’s juts this constant blue/ grey tinge that has got worse and worse over the last couple of years.

I don’t smoke I’m not on birth control and don’t have any hormone issues I’m aware of. I’ve tried home remedies, chemical peels and led light treatments, vitimans and every expensive covering foundation on the market from £6 to £45 and nothing hides it.

I’m so so self conscious of it now. I’m not making eye contact with people even walking to my car all I can think is of the shadow. I see people staring at the area also.. when I cover it I use peach/ red liostick then concealer and then foundation and it still is there ...

I’m getting desperate. My partner hasn’t said a word but I seem him looking at it almost in shock .. I didn’t have this a couple years ago when we met. I’m so sick of hiding my face with my hands, not having confidence to even look people I know in the face.. and worst all I cannot even cover it and go about my day... please help! Does anyone have this problem ? Could my Gp help!

Can't see a thing and I am obsessed with my own upper lip so would be honest. Genuinely looks fine. You have lovely skin.

I can’t see anything, honestly OP. You’re a very pretty lady. But this has got out of control and you need to see your GP.

I am being completely 100% honest here. I can't see any problem at all and I have scrutinised your photos, all of them. Seriously. You are lovely and you don't have a visible moustache line. I am so sorry you've become consumed with worry about this. You're very nice looking indeed and I hope you can get some help to confront your worries and put them behind you.

Also, as time goes on, we are all bound to experience changes with our looks, ageing and so on. If you experience genuine changes in the future it would be better if you can accept them as part of life instead of getting really down and obsessing over them. Good luck.

Looks normal to me!

I mean I see a little shadow but everyone has that! Watching This Morning, I can see it on Holly, on Meghan Trainor..... it's normal!

Nowt there.

Now my own upper lip is in serious need of deforestation, but my solitary spidery chin hair draws attention away from it

Before doing anything, try some small changes in your life to improve your mind set.
-Be kind to yourself, try to silence your inner critic (we all have one). When you look at yourself in the mirror, mentally list your good features and do this every time until it becomes habit.

-Limit the time spent looking at your reflection and resist the urge to keep checking through out the day.

-Focus on your own self worth- nothing to do with appearance. List all of your good attributes; kind, loyal, sense of humour, a good listener..whatever.

-Force yourself to get out and about, practice looking people in the eye and focus on engaging with what they're saying rather than seeing them as a mirror.

I also find regular exercise outside helps massively with my own mood.

I still can't see anything shadowy. Absolutely nothing. I can understand that people stare at you though. You're beautiful. Of course they're going to stare.

People are looking at you because you're pretty. Guaranteed. They are not staring at your lip. You are striking looking - that is why they stare.

Also - dark hair, pale skin, red lipstick - of course people will look! You would look like a doll!

And please don't consider a tattoo . You'll ruin yourself by messing about with all these costly treatments.

You're not alone, there are plenty of women that are obsessed with looking perfect or fixing their perceived flaws and they end up ruining their faces with all sorts of treatments, fillers and surgery until they look bloody peculiar. Professional beauty therapists will keep taking your money if you consult them.

I think you need to go to your GP, but for psychological help. There is seriously nothing remarkable about your face. The fact that these worries are intruding on your day to day life and relationship isn't healthy, you seem obsessed. I've no doubt you feel this is real, and people are just bring nice, but it's not. You look normal (nice). No one is noticing anything, no one is staring.

I swear to god, I can't see anything and I've studied your photos to try and see what you mean!
Your partner is probably thinking how good looking you are when you catch him looking 'in disbelief'. Make that appointment at the GP and get a medical perspective.

OP I am with the others. Your face looks normal and beautiful. Your reaction is extreme which suggests that you are fixating on this because of a MH issue rather than because there is a physical issue.

It's quite usual for there to be variations in skin tone across the face often due to the thickness of the skin. I am celtic and have pale skin and dark shadows around my eyes, they are completely normal.

I have done quite a lot of life drawing in the past and the natural variations in skin colour and shadows in every person is huge.

Thanks everyone honestly I wasn’t expecting it to be in my mind only . I’m going out this afternoon and I’m
Going to force myself not to put my hands up to my mouth or not make eye contact when ordering my coffee .. thanks again... last week a guy smiled when he walked past my car at a zebra crossing and I was convinced he was laughing at my moustache ... saying this out loud all the things I’ve shared is making me realise this is too much xxxx

Good for you. Just consciously making little changes like that will help to break the negative image of yourself that you've built up in your mind. You'll find that people respond positively to you smiling and making eye contact and it will get easier with practice.
Fake it til you make it and you'll get there.

Don't forget we all have our own insecurities however confident a person may seem.

OP, just adding to the chorus - you are beautiful and there is nothing wrong with your upper lip at all. Please don't get it tattooed - what if your skin colour naturally changes as you get older and you wind up with a top lip that stands out weirdly? Also tattoos fade/change colour so it might not stay the same.

Yes it's also true that you should go out and be confident and get on with your life, whatever you looked like. Plenty of people with obvious facial marks or scars etc do do that, and they deserve to be able to.

OP, I cannot see anything. What I can see is a very beautiful woman. Your skin is amazing and you have gorgeous lips. -think you are my new girl crush-

Please try and get help for what you are feeling. You are awesome 😎

is anyone else starting to think that maybe OP started this just so she could post a full pic and have everyone tell her how pretty she is? because there's sure as shit not a moustache there and she knows it

pretty people have just as many insecurities as non-pretty ones (to stay politically correct). I wouldn't dismiss somebody's concerns just because they are good looking

Nope, still can't see anything. Sometimes if I take a selfie and the light isn't good I look like I have a shadow. But a strong lipstick helps. I am sure people looking at you are just thinking how attractive you are!

kittenbeast it’s not that simple.

I agree with some previous posters that the OP likely has body dysmorphic disorder and has become so focused on this perceived imperfection that it is impacting on everything she does. OP, I’m a psychologist and have worked with people with similar issues before. The good news is that it can be treated, either with help from a professional or through reading and learning about BDD and using self help strategies.

Here is a link to something you might find helpful, it’s an online workbook that you can access for free:

www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=55

I always put my makeup on (inspect my face) about 3 to 4 inches away from a magnifying mirror too, which is not how people see you, most peoples eyeline is about 2 feet away in general if you think about it. (Not that there is anything to worry about with your face!!!!!) So inspect yourself from a couple of feet away to see what other people see.

Have you tried Dermacol? It worked for covering my cousins really sore looking acne.

But seriously, you’re stunning. I also have the same worry with above my upper lip but I can guarantee you people will be looking at you thinking “stunning” rather than anything else.