PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Skin discoloration triggered by hormones. It’s a problem for millions of women and until now, it’s been almost impossible to treat. 3 On Your Side Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl shows you the new solution.

They’re the joy of her life, but having children left Tracy Hopkins with embarrassing spots of discoloration on her face.

“It was really upsetting,” said Tracy.

It’s known as the mask of pregnancy, facial discolorations that appear before and after delivery. It can also happen to women taking birth control pills. The skin condition melasma is caused by hormonal fluctuations and exposure to the sun.

“It’s the first thing everybody looked at, and it was obvious,” said Tracy.

“There are so many women who are dismayed and upset about this,” said Nicole Dresnin, a Clinical Aesthetician with deme. She says melasma had been almost impossible to get rid of, but not anymore.

“It’s a real exciting thing because they’re like wow this is really working,” said Nicole.

The melasma fix is a special mask that’s worn for up to eight hours before it’s washed off at home.

“I was willing to try anything, willing to try anything,” said Tracy.

The mask contains a variety of ingredients including Vitamins A and Vitamin C, that are abrasive and cause the top layers of skin to peel off for about a week.

“I kept losing skin, and losing skin. And when I say, I’m talking sheets of skin were fall off my face,” said Tracy. She says it was like a bad sunburn, but didn’t hurt. And she could see the spots disappearing right away.

And then post peel creams are better able to penetrate the skin, to further fade the discolorations.

“This was the first thing that actually really worked. I love my skin. I love my skin,” said Tracy.

The deme melasma peel costs $600 and sometimes has to be followed up with additional peels. After the discolorations are faded, it’s critical to wear sunscreen to make sure they don’t come back.

Reported By: Stephanie Stahl, CBS 3

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