mask of pregnancy
- noun
- /mæsk əv ˈprɛɡnənsi/
- Specialized
:
cloasma
- The doctor explained that the mask of pregnancy is a common condition caused by hormonal changes.
It used to be called the mask of pregnancy and melasma is something that is very sensitive to both UV and visible light.
- It used to be called the mask of pregnancy and melasma is something that is very sensitive to both UV and visible light.
Examples
-
During her second trimester, she noticed the mask of pregnancy spreading across her cheeks.
-
Many women experience the mask of pregnancy as a temporary skin change while expecting.
-
It used to be called the mask of pregnancy and melasma is something that is very sensitive to both UV and visible light.
Synonyms
Dark brown patches on a woman's face often during pregnancy or after taking birth control
Dark brown patches on the face that often appear during pregnancy or after taking birth control pills
How Dark
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally combines 'mask' and 'pregnancy', so a learner can infer it refers to some facial condition associated with pregnancy; however the specific dermatological sense (melasma/chloasma — a tan or brownish discoloration of the face) is medical and not directly predictable from the everyday meaning of 'mask'. Because the compositional link is partial but requires domain knowledge or prior exposure to reach the precise meaning, it is best rated as semi-transparent.
Etymology
Mask of pregnancy may come from the way dark, tan patches spread across a woman's cheeks and forehead, looking like a mask on the face during pregnancy. That's why the phrase describes the 'tan or brownish' change some women get while pregnant.