why my face suddenly become dark - #18395
I am super confused and a little worried because I noticed that my face suddenly become dark over the past few weeks. Like, one day I looked in the mirror and I’m pale as usual, and then bam! It’s like someone turned the lights down on me. I thought maybe it was just the sun, but I didn’t spend any more time outside than normal. I usually wear sunscreen, and I haven’t changed my skincare routine or anything. I did notice that my cheeks and forehead are darker but my neck and other parts of my body look the same. I mean, could it be hormonal? I’ve been tracking my cycles, and there’s been nothing odd but maybe something that I can't see is going on. Also, I’m 34 and I feel like I should probably be aware of these changes but I’m really not! It feels frustrating! I just wanna know, why my face suddenly become dark? Is this something that’s gonna stick around? What about any treatments? Should I see a dermatologist? Can anyone else relate? Please help!
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Doctors' responses
Sudden changes in skin pigmentation on your face can be perplexing and may have several potential causes. While sun exposure can often lead to a darker complexion, you’ve ruled this out by using sunscreen and not increasing your time outdoors. Given that only your face seems affected, this might suggest a change in pigmentation, known medically as melasma, which can indeed be triggered by hormonal fluctuations. Even if your menstrual cycles appear normal, subtle hormonal shifts often occur due to oral contraceptives, stress, or thyroid conditions, which can affect skin pigmentation. Furthermore, recent use of any medications, or exposure to photosensitizing agents could also play a role. It’s crucial to consider less common but possible underlying health conditions like Addison’s disease, which can cause skin changes but would be accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue or weight loss. Since the changes you’re noticing are isolated to your face, it might be advisable to see a dermatologist who can evaluate for melasma or other dermatological conditions. They might recommend topical treatments like hydroquinone, retinoids, or procedures like chemical peels that could help lighten the affected areas over time. In the meantime, continue using broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to prevent further change. And, if any new symptoms appear, don’t delay in consulting a healthcare provider to rule out other potential causes.
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