Brown spots after pregnancy - any ideas?

[sottovoce]

I am not actually pregnant at the moment, but still have a really unfortunate left over from my last one (dd is 13 months).

I think I am suffering from chloasma (?sp?) - the so called "mask of pregnancy". Arrrrgh! My upper lip is very dark - not hair but the skin and it bothers me a lot. This came on last summer despite sun block and I am worried about it getting worse. Do you know of anything I can do to stop it and anything I can do to hide it?(I am using a blob of Touche Eclat at the moment but it's not really up to the job).

thanks

bump...anyone?

Can't really afford laser Kayzed. Was hoping for a face cream

Hi Sottovoce -
I SOOO sympathise with you. I've suffered from cloasma for a couple of years now - it came on very suddenly after a summer holiday in greece. I wasnt pg - just on the pill. The last couple of summers have become a nightmare of keeping my face in the shade and wearing a white moustache of factor sixty on my top lip. I absolutely hate it and feel it is really noticable. I only get it after exposure to sunlight as a rule - but I am now 36 weeks PG and it's starting to come up. I wish I could offer some foolproof remedy. I've used Fade Out cream ( you can get it in Boots) plus other brightening creams (ROC and Elemis) neither of which seemed to do very much. I also looked into laser, but it was so expensive. Apparently it is very effective though. I am so fed up with walking around looking like a mexican bandit. I use a good foundation to cover itup, but as you rightly say - it doesnt really cover it completely and you can still see it quite clearly. I might be forced to try laser soon if it doesn't get any better....

Thanks Kayzed - this definitely looks worth a try. Do you use the foundation and the powder or just the powder??

RoC Soya Unify is a great little moisturiser (and reasonably cheap) for evening out your skin tone. Well, works for me! Don’t forget to wear loads of facial high spf moisturiser as well. I suffer form this mildly since first pregnancy and have to watch my skin like a hawk in the sun - I tan very easily and in blotches - looks like badly applied self tan only not orange!! Never used to have it bf first pregnancy.

Thanks ladies - I thought I was the only one with the Frida Kahlo look going on! Am in a real rush but will read your advice and post properly tomorrow

Thanks once again XXXXX

What about a chemical peel?

Kayzed, I am going to try the samples of the barefaced beauty stuff as that looks fab! I am currently using facial sun block but it's factor 50 so I look as if I have fallen in a pot of paint. Very hard to rub in! This looks like a really good alternative. Thanks for setting it out for me. you shoudl get a commission .

Thanks everyone for your advice and help. Nice to know I am not the only one!!

I have also suffered with this on my forehead. Have small patches of light brown marks. They appeared before I found out I was pg and they have stayed ever since (ds is 16.5m). So glad to see I am not the only one, and I shall look at the link too.