I'm 49 and over the last few years have developed two sizeable patches of melasma on my arms. One dermatologist told me that it was from sun damage...but the most recent, new dermatologist told me that its from hormones..specifically having kids or being on the pill. Well, I've never had kids, and I've NEVER taken any form of birth control pill. I think the dr. thought I was lying about it. She prescribed a bleaching cream... I was wondering if anyone else has developed this condition too. I'm not menopausal yet, but in peri.

Funny enough last summer i suffered with this on my face i was scared as i had visions of going to bed and getting up with it all over my face, in patches. so i did the worst thing and googled it, big mistake, i went to the Drs and he said it was sun sensitive i cant see it some how as i had never had it before anyway this was about a month before evrything else started to go wrong and funny enough the skin cleared up on its own and this year i never had it, so i have no explaination but it went all of a sudden, so i wouldnt worry to much maybe its something we get, i am 39 and in peri also

I developed a couple of brown patches on my face almost immediately I started taking HRT. In fact I think this was listed as a side effect of HRT. The darker of the two patches, and the noticeable one, is thankfully small and on the side of my face so not too visible. The larger one is more central but thankfully pale, so not that noticeable - I notice it when I look in the mirror however! I'm kind of olive or sallow skinned anyway so it's not too great a difference to the surrounding complexion.

I stopped taking HRT almost a year ago but the patches have remained.

I started getting those on my face after my last pregnancy, and they've gotten worse. I have some asian/polynesian, and I've noticed that all my older relatives and friends of similar nationality have them. I read up on bleaching creams and decided not to use them because they can turn your skin a weird shade that's even worse than the splotches.

I think that any hormonal change can cause them - pregnancy, post-pregnancy, hormone therapy, or even perimenopause.

I have had the brown spots, both on my arms and on my face. The first time I spoted them, they were on each jaw line. I don't remember how long they remained, I covered it with makeup and never inquired about it. Some time after they had disappeared, they reappeared this time high on my forehead. I also tried to hide it with makeup but of course, my hair dresser noticed and asked about it. I was 41 at the time and had no idea what they were but that is the year I went to Mississippi to visit my mother and a friend of hers told me it was called 'Mother's Mask' and it was named so because it was often found on pregnant women. So, I guess it is hormone related. It has left me, not sure when, but the spots on my arms remain. I didn't really mind much, I have the little red spider marks on my arm and with the brown spots, it looks like I have sunburn. I normally joke when someone asks about it and tell them I am part red skin. I have read since that it happens often with the Native Americans, which I'm not, so I guess the joke was on me.

I haven't tried it but I heard that lemon water applied with a cotten ball will lighten the spots. I don't know how often you need to apply or for how long. Guess it is a try though if they bother you.

When I was using HRT I devleoped them on the side of my face. They did not go away when I went off the hormones. I just use a concealer on them which works for me.

Am going for a peeling in December. Not a harsh chemical peel but one strong enough to even out my skin tone. Even going to Botox my worry line on my forhead. If you go for facials, they usually do a very mild peel and if you go often enough you'll notice an improvement. I can't use products from a Derm., they are always too agressive for me and burn my skin. I use products from Brigitte kettner and can only say good about them.

EpiQuin Micro is a prescription medication that treats hyperpigmentation, whether the discoloration is from sun damage, melasma, or postinflammatory darkening from prior trauma to the skin. It lightens the brown spots and prevents overproduction of melanin from occuring. It can be used as a 4 week treatment or can be used long term for maintenance therapy as it has no steriods in it.

Hi Ladies,

In the past few weeks I've had an unwelcome flare up of the worst of my peri symptoms, and at the same time I noticed a faint brown patch on the right side of my face. Never had this before, but I'm not surprised to hear that it can be hormonal, and think it probably is in my case, as it coincides with all the other symptoms. It's a relief, as ever, to visit this site and discover that I'm not alone in experiencing these odd symptoms!! Jess x