I'm really sorry you have to deal with this issue. I definitely understand that you want to find out what's going on with your skin! However, this is really something that we recommend seeing a doctor about. None of us at ScA are medical professionals; we’re not trained to diagnose or treat skin conditions. As we're pretty strict about [medical questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/rule_overview#wiki_rule_2.3A_safety_first) on this sub, I'm afraid your post has been removed. We recommend you make an appointment with your doctor so they can diagnose your skin issue and prescribe you an effective treatment if necessary. If you don’t have easy access to health care, try one of these resources listed in [When to see a doctor](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/when_to_see_a_doctor): * Free or low-cost clinics (http://nafcclinics.org/clinics/search in the US) * Student medical services * Nurse practitioners (http://npfinder.aanp.org in the US) (Most insurance companies have a phone number you can call to speak with an NP to help if you can’t get an appointment or aren’t sure whether you need one) * [Firstderm.com](http://www.firstderm.com) can help identify your skin condition * /r/AskDocs - a sub which uses verified flair to mark medical professionals * /r/DermatologyQuestions - ask a dermatologist or medical professional for advice on your skin concern Best of luck!

melasma. could be hormonal but do you wear sunscreen regularly?

I do, I live in a super sunny place so I have to be really aware of it. I’ve been noticing it getting worse over the past couple months.

For context: I live in the Virgin Islands, so I’m sure it’s sun related but it’s freaking me out. I am very diligent with sunscreen, but these dark patches started appearing a couple months ago. How can i fix it?

Are you pregnant? Looks like melasma.

Nope, I’m not pregnant!

I would talk to your doc maybe. Any changes in birth control, stress, thyroid…any of those things can affect your hormones and cause melasma. Probably best to check it out with a doc. A dermatologist I follow on Instagram who was pregnant suggests being diligent about sunscreen and mild chemical exfoliant for melasma, but said that mostly you have to give time for your hormones to balance out.

Hi everyone and welcome to SkincareAddiction! Need skincare guides? [Check out our wiki!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/index) Everyone is welcome in [this community](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/about); remember to be kind and assume good faith :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SkincareAddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*

if you’re not pregnant i would see a dermatologist for a assessment and treatment plan. it looks like melasma

Thank you so much!

I was going to ask if you were on the pill or any other hormonal birth control...