Perfectly… pigmented?

“So, what’s the deal… with your face?”

I hadn’t seen my brother in several months as our gang didn’t have our usual Easter gathering this year. He and his wife had arrived at our condo just a few minutes before he asked me this in the kitchen.

At first I didn’t know what he was talking about, or if he was serious. Then I realized what he meant… the dark blotches of skin on my face.

It was not a sunburn or patchy tan. I wish!

It was not rosacea or reddish-pink coloring on my cheeks, which I have had in the past from heat, alcohol or exercise. That always went away.

This site about rosacea - http://www.rosacea.org/patients/materials/triggers.php - lists just about everything I eat as a possible trigger. That’s why I’d ignored the problem till now.

It was not an allergic reaction, as my brother suspected. My sister in law has allergies that include cats, for which I gave her a Benadryl (as 3 felines roam our home). Again, I wish.

None of the above. These spots showed up in the last 9 months – and never went away.

Brown patches along my cheekbones almost to my ears, above my upper lip and, biggest and most obvious, a devil-horned shape in the middle of my forehead. The last one is the most disturbing – and distracting – when I look in the mirror each morning.

I keep hoping the spots will disappear and I’ll look in the mirror one day and see my old self. But I’m starting to lose hope. And seek help.

I look younger than my nearly 42 years and am still carded, which people tell me is a great compliment. My skin has been one of my best assets, until now.

For many years I’ve put lotion on my whole body after I shower and also on my face, particularly around my eyes, which have few signs of wrinkles. My “almost makeup” contains lotion and an SPF of 15 and I use it almost religiously.

My olive skin tends to brown easily and not burn. Except for a painful lapse in Tahiti and occasional minor breakouts, my skin and face have been healthy and happy.

But something happened after my last birthday. The pink cheeks turned beige then brown and other patches and spots appeared.

It is called “hyperpigmentation.”

The cause is unknown, it is often genetic, is exacerbated by sunshine, and once it shows up it’s there to stay. That’s what the aesthetician said at Allyu Spa - http://www.allyuspa.com/ - after an extensive 7-part, hour-long treatment and review under lamps.

“Your skin is perfectly healthy,” she said. “It’s not at all oily or dry, which is rare, and there is no visible sun damage.” Great, except for those big distracting brown spots.

A dermatologist might figure out the cause, she continued, but 90% of the time it is genetic (thanks, Mom?) and won’t go away on its own. Most derms use chemicals or lasers to lighten or remove spots.

According to a professional dermatologists site - http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/hyperpigmentation.html - the condition is called “melasma” and is most often caused by hormonal changes, often in pregnant women. Which I am not.

For more natural approaches, I could try salon products (expensive) or add a few drops of lemon to my lotion for lightening effect. There is also a succulent plant related to aloe the aesthetician called stonecrop or ‘chicks n’ hens’ that might be worth a try.

I’ve got lemons in the fridge and am fighting the urge to cut one open and juice it on my forehead.

First I’ll try the plant, which I picked up at Gethesmane last week - http://www.gethsemanegardens.com/ . It’s cuter than aloe with rounded leaves spreading from its center like a desert rose and small babies ("chicks") hanging on the sides. The leaves can be snapped open like aloe to reveal a cool liquid inside.

I’ve used it twice after washing my face and massaging it in to increase circulation (as my chiropractor suggested). This clearly isn’t Harry Potter magic and I've seen no changes yet.

I asked a friend about her dermatologist, highly recommended. It's good to have options and information. Rosacea and melasma are listed as treatable conditions on the derm's site, http://www.lincolnparkdermatology.com/ , so maybe that's a good sign. I'm going to make an appointment.

“You could also get a tan,” the aesthetician said, chuckling. “That would cover it up.”

I'm hitting the beach today with a friend. But I’m keeping tabs on those lemons, just in case.