My Mustache Brings All The Boys To The Yard

So I really can’t believe that with all the other challenges I’m going through, my body decided to throw me another curve ball and color my upper lip into a mustache that can’t be waxed.  It’s called Mylasma (aka Melasma, Chloasma or Pregnancy Mask) and it happens to women who have gone through hormonal changes...pregnancy and such. It probably isn’t a (visible) issue for those who don’t sunbathe regularly during the summer months…something we Vata-types LOVE to do after a long cold winter.

I’ve had the mustache for 2 summers now but I didn’t know its technical name until a few weeks ago after a consultation with laser specialist, who immediately diagnosed my mustache and told me that I need to use a lightening cream and basically stay out of the sun forever... NOT something I will be able to follow.  I know the sun can be harmful...and yes, it's the reason that Nick now calls me “his little Pedro” but I just love the sun too much.   In addition, I found I can't even use bronzers or self tanners to try to match my pale face to my darker body...the bronzers bring out the mustache as well!!!  Nothing works to "mask" it...even the strongest concealer can't cover it up. The aesthetician said I need to experiment with different colors of blush.  :-/  This is a long shot, but I can’t help but wonder if my hormonal changes were due to the IUD I had put in a little over 2 years ago.

I’m not going to use a bleaching cream to get rid of my mustache because that, again, is treating the symptoms and not the underlying cause.  I’d like to see what my Ayurvedic Doctor says about my stache.  I’m wondering if she has some cream to counteract the cause of the freak hormonal change.  If her methods don’t work then I will probably take my IUD out and see if it makes a difference….until then, it's a giant rimmed hat and a little extra sunblock. 

Regarding the laser treatment:

Most of my friends know I am a sucker for the group buying coupons…I buy all my massages, beauty treatments and yoga classes this way because it is super affordable and always an adventure…you never quite know how good, or bad, the service will be.  A few months ago I purchased a photo-facial before knowing exactly what it was. It turns out a photo-facial utilizes a laser to correct sun damage and other flaws in the skin.  I was very lucky to be seen by Donna, the owner of Bellezza  Dermacenter in Philadelphia. She informed me that she had just gotten back from L.A. where she had treated "the stars" many of whom had the same affliction. Apparently, there are a ton of laser technicians who have no idea what they are doing.  Many are trained how to operate the laser, but have little or no knowledge of skin conditions and how to treat them.  She said that using a laser to treat mylasma can make it much worse if done incorrectly. Donna gave me a “light” laser treatment and said my "mustache" may be a little darker for a few weeks, but eventually it will lighten if I use the bleaching cream and sunscreen she recommended.  I may try those products if my other experiments don’t work.