Addison's and skin darkening

[tiredpoet]

I'm going to be tested for Addison's this week, but I have a question for anyone who has dealt with the symptom of hyperpigmentation.  Like I said, I don't know yet if this is caused by Addison's or something else, but my whole right cheek looks like it's in a shadow - it's like a weird gray color.  It starts around the jaw line and covers most of my cheek and then creeps up around my brow bone.  I also have patches of like light brown on my forehead and legs, backs of my knees, etc.  

I'm mostly concerned with the weird "stain" on my face, because it literally looks like half my face is in a shadow and I can't cover it up.  Does anyone know of anything that might make it less noticeable or help me make brighten up my skin a little?  I can almost deal with brown patches (although I hate it), but I feel like this gray discoloration is making me look sickly...as if I don't already feel like garbage.  I'd just like to minimize it as much as I can.  Make up isn't really doing the trick so far, but you know what they say, when you look better you feel better!  

Any help with dealing with hyperpigmentation and discoloration would be awesome :)

[rumpled]

The tops of my cheeks kinda weeping down my face, and my hands. But at this point I have them all over, even places that do not get sun, like my inner thighs!

I used to have a very fair complexion. Skin tags yes, are part of the package. Nice... not. The steroids do that.

Perhaps use a lighter shade? I do manage to cover mine up completely if I want and mine is pretty bad. But it may be that you need to experiment with brands of make-up or see a dermatologist and/or a make-up place to get ideas. I went to both - the derm was expensive (more so!) and so can be make-up but at least the make up is or can be a bit more fun! I hate wearing make up... I never did.

[tiredpoet]

Thank you!  This is very helpful info.  

May I ask where your darkest spots are, and if they're more brown or grayish-blue or another color?

I've got the bluish-gray tinge I described, as well as bronze patches on my forehead and right beside my nose, and a very light, hardly noticeable "tan" on the backs of my knees and my underarms (I'm very fair skinned.)  

Lately I've been developing some tiny bronze patches that almost look like freckles on my face, and a smattering of brown spots that almost look like old acne scars (but these are brand new spots) on my cheeks, and also some pinkish, flesh colored skin tags on my arms, back and chest.  Are these common in Addison's?  

I use mineral makeup, but I'm finding that on my cheek it just looks darker no matter what shade I use.  It does cover up the grayish hue, but it sort of looks like I put a darker shade of foundation on one cheek.  Very strange.

I've been using SPF 55 in addition to the mineral makeup that is SFP 25.  Hopefully it'll at least help keep all this from darkening.

[rumpled]

I have it on my face too.

I use mineral make up to minimize it as well as it has spf to help stop more from happening.

There are medications that a doctor can give you - but one 30 day supply was $150 or more. It is not covered by insurance as it is considered cosmetic.

Make sure you use a cream with spf. It is the ACTH that is causing the darkening and spots. The first 15 molecules of ACTH are the same as melanin so the higher the ACTH, the more melanin there is hence the darkening.

My ACTH is upwards of 2800 as high as 3117, so I have a lot of spots all over. My first tan ever.