What Is It? Melasma is a condition in which areas of the skin
become darker than the surrounding skin. Doctors call this
hyperpigmentation. It typically occurs on the face, particularly
the forehead, cheeks and above the upper lip. The dark patches
often appear on both sides of the face in a nearly identical
pattern. The darker-colored patches of skin can be any shade,
from tan to deep brown. Rarely, these dark patches may appear on
other sun-exposed areas of the body. Melasma occurs much more
often in women than in men, and usually is associated with
hormonal changes. That is why the dark patches develop often
during pregnancy, or if a woman is taking hormone replacement
therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptives. Melasma during pregnancy
is relatively common. Sometimes it is called the "mask of
pregnancy" or "chloasma." The dark patches typically last until
the pregnancy ends. The most important factor in the development
of melasma is exposure to sunlight. Using medications that make
you sensitive to the sun (pho