I’m a woman in my 30s, and a few months after starting a hormonal contraceptive, I began noticing light-to-dark brown patches spreading across my cheeks and upper lip. They seemed faint at first, but over time they became more obvious, especially when I stepped into sunlight—it felt like the colour deepened instantly. The patches don’t hurt, but they make me self-conscious, almost as if my face has a shadow that won’t wash off.