Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
What is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation?
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the appearance of pink, reddish, brown, or black spots on the skin following an inflammatory process or injury. In other words, it arises as a kind of mark left by a previous skin condition.
Causes of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
It is a condition that appears due to the patient’s predisposition combined with other factors such as a dark skin phototype, a tendency to develop pigmentation, or excessive sun exposure. The risk also increases if the person manipulates the lesion. Some prior conditions that can cause dark spots, if predisposition exists, include atopic dermatitis (localized inflammation), psoriasis, insect bites, burns, scrapes, acne, or scars. Dark spots may also appear in the underarms or intimate areas due to the constant use of razors, which progressively darken the skin.
Cutaneous hyperpigmentation can appear on any part of the body where a previous inflammatory process has occurred.
Symptoms
Skin spots can have different colorations depending on the person’s skin tone. They are painless and appear after an inflammatory process, such as the healing of wounds, nodules, or pimples on the skin.
Diagnosis
From the patient’s medical history, the doctor can determine that the dark spots on the skin are the result of an inflammatory process, which can also be assessed simply by observation.
Treatments for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
The treatment has an excellent prognosis. At the clinic of Dr. Juan Carlos Lloreda, an expert in aesthetic and anti-aging medicine, an integrated approach is used that combines the following elements:
Laser IPL
This type of laser with pulsed light is used in cases where hyperpigmentation has developed as a result of acne.
Chemical Peel
Peels or microdermabrasion treatments can also be effective, as they remove the superficial layer affected by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, promoting exfoliation and renewal of the skin’s outermost layer.
Biostimulators
These are substances that improve the extracellular matrix to stimulate collagen quality, firmness, radiance, elasticity, and overall optimal skin condition. They are used as part of treatments for skin pigmentation issues such as melasma, erythema dyschromicum perstans (ashy dermatosis), and, in this case, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The goal is to target sun damage or aging—factors that contribute to the appearance of skin discoloration. The purpose of these products is to repair and enhance tissue quality to achieve more satisfying results. The most commonly used in Dr. Lloreda’s clinic are Sunekos, Radiesse, Sculptra, HarmonyCA, Exosomas and enzymes.
Corticosteroids
These are medications used to control inflammatory processes. When a chronic condition or the presence of nodules is detected, they can be administered intradermally as part of the treatment.
The best recommendation is to visit a specialist to identify the appropriate product and avoid causing further damage.
Expectations
It is a condition with a very good outlook for improvement and skin tone correction through the treatments described. For best results, it is essential that the patient follows medical recommendations closely.
These treatments are also ideal for those who want to address pigmentation in the underarm or intimate areas.
Book your appointment for wellness
Discover personalized treatments to regain your confidence and boost your self-esteem, using the best technology in aesthetic medicine. Book now with our team of experts and begin your journey to wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat to fight hyperpigmentation?
There are no foods directly linked to skin depigmentation. However, to maintain healthy skin, it is important to consume natural, unprocessed foods; avoid gluten and dairy products that promote inflammation in the body. Staying hydrated with water and eating antioxidant-rich foods are also beneficial.
What is the best depigmenting cream?
The best recommendation is to visit a doctor to determine the patient’s condition and prescribe the appropriate treatment. This helps prevent damage and worsening of the skin pigmentation, which could otherwise require more complex treatments to achieve good results.
How to treat a hyperpigmented scar?
Depending on the condition of the skin spots, medications, intradermal products, laser treatments, and substances can be prescribed to improve the skin’s condition. It is important to avoid sun exposure or manipulating the affected area.
Why did my scar turn black?
It is most likely related to the patient’s phototype. In darker skin tones, the spots that appear after a post-inflammatory process may have a blackish coloration.
Recommendations
Avoid exposing the affected area to the sun, as dark spots on the skin may become more pronounced.
It is very important to avoid using products indiscriminately, as they can worsen the problem and later require a much more intensive procedure to achieve skin depigmentation.
Photoprotection
Patients are advised to protect themselves from sun exposure. Ideally, one should get between 10 and 20 minutes of sunlight daily to benefit from its positive effects; however, if the skin is prone to pigmentation or has a lesion, such as a healing wound or pustules, it is not recommended to expose that area to the sun.
Related articles
Why do dark spots make you look older? Science has the answer.
Irregular pigmentation can make you look up to 10 years older. Discover the science behind skin spots and how to restore an even, radiant tone.
Needle-free treatments that transform your skin
Discover needle-free technologies to enhance firmness, tone, and radiance. Visible, safe results with minimal recovery time.
Melasma: treat dark spots and restore your skin
Advanced medical protocols for melasma deliver visible, long-lasting results. Restore your even skin tone, confidence, and well-being.