The mask of pregnancy

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Ann Douglas

Ann Douglas, author of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth and Everything in Between and The Mother of All Baby Books: The Ultimate Guide to Your Baby's First Year, is here at Pregnancy & Baby! Read Ann's advice on everything from keeping romance alive amidst the structure and stress of baby-making to weathering the storms of morning sickness to preparing for the birth of your dreams.

The question: I am seven months pregnant and seem to have developed a weird tan on my cheeks. Is this what my pregnancy books are referring to when they talk about the "mask of pregnancy?"

Ann's Answer: Yes, it sounds to me that what you're seeing in the mirror is the so-called "mask of pregnancy" (chloasma). Chloasma is caused by the effects of the pregnancy hormones progesterone and estrogen on the melanin cells in the skin. It tends to be more of a problem for brunettes than for blondes. If you're prone to chloasma, you can minimize its effects by avoiding intense sunlight. The pigmentation will start to disappear after you give birth and your hormone levels begin to return to their pre-pregnancy levels.

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Editor's pick: The Mother of All Pregnancy Books

About the author: Ann Douglas is an award-winning pregnancy and parenting author. She is the author of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, The Mother of All Baby Books, The Mother of All Toddler Books, The Mother of All Parenting Books, and The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers (all part of the internationally best-selling The Mother of All® Books series), as well as the two debut titles in the newly launched The Mother of All Solutions series: Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler and Preschooler: The Ultimate No-Worry Approach for Each Age and Stage (Mother of All Solutions) , and Mealtime Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler and Preschooler, Part of The Mother of All Solutions series: The Ultimate No-Worry Approach for Each Age and Stage (Mother of All Solutions). She is also the co-author of other highly popular titles in the pregnancy and parenting category, including The unofficial Guide to Having a Baby and Trying Again: A Guide to Pregnancy after Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss (both co-authored with John R. Sussman, MD).