Melasma moustache

[MotherOfBeardedDragons]

I’ve never had this before, but over the last few weeks have developed, above my top lip, a brown-ish skin discolouration that google searches have told me is a Melasma moustache.

I’m not pregnant or on any contraception, but I’ve read it can be caused by the sun and I’ve recently switched my foundation and hadn’t realised this one has no SPF protection, so I’m thinking this is the cause.

I’ve started using sun cream as part of my skin care routine now.

It’s making me so self-conscious and make up seems to just make it darker. It looks as if I have an actual moustache and is very obvious in certain light.

Does anyone have any experience of dealing with this? Any tips on getting rid of it or even covering it would be great. I’m not sure if it might just go away itself or if it’s here to stay.

TIA.

I'm not sure, but I go for creams aimed at age spots etc and use spf as well as covering with concealer. Benefit erase paste is a good one. Sorry for the lack of help. It's a pain in the ass, I also get it in my forehead. I'm pretty sure mines due to the pill, and also because I'm VERY freckly.

Thank you so much Buster, I’ll try the Benefit concealer, that’s actually a lot of help, as I haven’t had much luck with concealers in the past so appreciate the recommendation!

Hadn’t thought about creams for age/sun spots either, that’s a good idea.

I can't vouch that they work but surely sunspots are pretty much the same? The best cream I used was a shishedo one, it was a brightening cream. Pink toned. It really evened out my complexion but was pricey.

This one

www.shiseido.com/us/en/white-lucent-brightening-gel-cream-0730852149328.html

And this, its light reflecting and quite think so imo it works well around my mouth.

www.benefitcosmetics.com/en-us/product/boi-ing-brightening-concealer?&sku=FM110

*thick.

You need hydroquinone cream if you want to make it go away - I had the same issue. The cream works but it can come back again after a while so you might need to use it intermittently.

Yea you need hydroquinone treatment. It's prescription only I think??

And while I'm at it I'm going to recommend this for for general use, I'm very freckly and find a lot of foundations make me look a bit grey where the freckles are, but this stick is a dream to use, it's very creamy, I dot it on and wait for it to warm up then blend with my fingers. It has SPF too. Since buying it I've not touched any other foundations in my make up collection.

www.bareminerals.com/makeup/face/foundation/complexion-rescue-hydrating-foundation-stick-spf-25/USmasterCRstick.html

Same here and hydroquinone plus daily use of sunscreen (365 days of the year) got rid of it.

I've never heard of this magic cream. I'm going to have to purchase some ASAP (not in the UK).

I have recently developed a patch on my cheekbone, I think related to the coil, so reading the responses with interest.

I’ve had melasma since having my second Dc. Finally signed up to dermatica and the cream I have seems to be working well at breaking it up and lightening it. Although it’s not an instance fix. Think I’m on hydroquinone and Tretinoin or something like that

Do you wax as I found that makes me develop discolouration?

I had that after baby and possibly due to waxing and sun exposure.

I've since had laser removal to avoid waxing again and the dark patch did go away, I think it took a while though.

I had this for a while- it went on its own eventually. But I started using the number 7 face spf which is anti pigmentation and it’s never come back. Worth a go? In order to cover it while I had it I used the bare minerals powder foundation or Sheer Cover powder which really worked. Normal concealer and foundation just seemed to draw attention to it

Buster thank you so much for that and for those links, I’m in the U.K. but I’ll look for them here, that’s so, so helpful. I have such a hard time finding face make-up and creams.

I don’t wax, but I do pluck some hairs from there. When I sweat it’s always that area too, so I wondered if that had something to do with it.

I’ve read about hydroquinone, but it said that it can either make it worse or better so I’m a bit worried about trying it incase it’s the former!

Normal concealer and foundation just seemed to draw attention
This seems to be the case for me too. Powder foundations don’t look good on my skin unfortunately, but I’ll definitely try the no7 spf too, thank you very much.

Are you me OP? Had this exact thing happen to me over the last 3 months. My mother in law helpfully pointed out to me I needed to do something about my moustache

I’ve read about hydroquinone being the fix but haven’t got a clue what to actually get. It’s making me miserable though, like you say, it’s like I’ve got an actual moustache :(

@Daria32

I had this for a while- it went on its own eventually. But I started using the number 7 face spf which is anti pigmentation and it’s never come back. Worth a go? In order to cover it while I had it I used the bare minerals powder foundation or Sheer Cover powder which really worked. Normal concealer and foundation just seemed to draw attention to it

Is this the bb cream one or the actual sunscreen? It says it’s only spf15, is that right?

My mother in law helpfully pointed out to me I needed to do something about my moustache
My own mother said exactly the same thing!!!

It’s really getting me down too, I wouldn’t care so much if it was anywhere else but there! I am desperately hoping it will go away itself.

I had microneedling for some minor scars (chicken pox) and it also really improved my hyperpigmentation - mine was in the same place as yours. It’s a bit painful and my face was red for a good couple of days but it was worth it. I had it done by a qualified nurse, I’d be cautious about going to a beautician.

Op I'm 100% sure the make up is sold in the UK and I'd be very surprised if the Shishedo cream wasn't.

Have you had any luck OP?

For th OK who says she has it on her cheek that can be a sign of diabetes.