The post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is the darkening of skin prior to any injury due to excess melanin production. It may also cause when the old red blood cell die. Acne is the most common cause or any injury like cut, burns, insect bite, are other causes.
In most cases the dark skinned people are prone to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Now people are trying to reduce post inflammatory hyperpigmentation in various ways.
PIH is a common sequelae that tends to affect dark skinned people with great percentage. The most common reason darker racial/ethnic groups take the help of dermatologist. The treatment of PIH should be started early to hasten its resolution.
Topical tyrosinace inhibitors are hydroquinone, azeliac acid, kojic acid can effectively lighten areas og hyperpigmentation. Other depigment agents are retinoids, mequinol, ascorbic acid and niacin amide. Topical therapy is effective for epidermal PIH.
Symptoms of Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation:
One or more areas on skin may be darker brown or red brown discoloration and some area never fade specially in legs.
- Since sunlight may further increase discoloration you should use Sun screen SPF15 or more.
- You should makeup covering the affected area. Waterproof make is preferable for leg and arms.
- If you have acne you should consult a doctor.
- While using cream higher concentration is preferred but if no improvement the stop applying.
- Aloe vera and cocoa butter are common home remedies but not so effective.
- Cortisone cream cannot be used unless it is recommended by your physicians.
Some cream known as hyperpigmentation cream may be helpful to fade dark marks. These cream include 2-4% hydroquinone , tretinion, azeliac acid, glycol acid. These products are most of the time used in combination.
Chemical peels and micro dermabrasion cannot cover insurance and need 4-6 times monthly. If the treatment is not done by experts it may cause irritation and darkening. Though the vitamin C serum for pigmentation is an artificial treatment it is widely used nowadays.
Medical care:
The ideal treatment for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the most difficult treatment that may take even 6-12 months time.Each of these treatment option can be very effective in depigmentation but no one can give guarantee. Daily use broad spectrum sunscreen SPF15 or more is a must for therapeutic regimen.
In recent days a variety of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation treatment have developed with varying degree of success. These agents include hydroquinone, tretinoin cream, glycolic acid and azelaic acid. Any one of this agents can easily lighten the hyperpigmentation are but when the agents are used in combination you can achieve a significant improvement.
They are only effective in epidermal hyperpigmentation Tropical tretinion has shown better result than others when combined with salicylic acid peel in the observation. In another study the combination of glycolic acid peel with 2% hydroquinone. 0.05% tretinoin shows better results than others particularly Indians.
Combination of GA peels
GA peels in combination, hydroquinone and tretinoin is an effective treatment in post inflammatory hyperpigmentation treatment particulary dark skinned individuals.
Topical Azeliac acid which is recommended for acne vulgaris is very useful in the treatment of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 2 methods of treatment should always be avoided for dark skinned patients.This may cause permanent depigmentation and scarring.
Pigmented makeup creams has been successfully applied to camouflage hyperpigmentation.skin.More option may come in future. RAL Retinaldehyde has shown depigmentating activity, while GA decreases the excess of pigment through wounding process.
A combination of RAL 0.1% and GA 6% in the treatment of PIH and acne scars are most fruitful. The combined treatment of Azeliac acid cream and serial GA peels may be an effective and safe therapy for melasma.Depigmenting agentsare found in different formations. The extract of aloe vera and its ingredients available are taken as active skin depigmenting agents.
PIH can be seen all types of skin that occurs fron an injury and then inflammation which is prone to black skinned vpeopleof Africa, Asian and Indians. PIH has significant psychosocial impact on skin color patient.
However there is awide variety of safe and effective treatment for PIH including topical depigment agents. Therefore in this article both naural and artificial treatment have been discussed.
How to treat post inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the darkening of skin prior to any injury due to excessive production melanin. This occurs during the healing process after the treatment other skin disease.
In most cases PIH disappear at its own after a few weeks. You can speed up the process by the following steps and it is considered as the best treatment for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Step 1:
Allow PIH to disappear automatically for sometime. Before using topical creams and skin brightners.It is better to use Sunscreen SPF30 at least,protective clothing and hats that may speed up healing process.
Step2:
Use natural foods and drinks such as fruit juices and herbal extract to treat PIH. Some fruits like papua, lemon, grapes, and kiwis juices are mixed together and to allpy in the affected area of skin. Allow 20 minutes after application. Then wash with lukewarm water. Repeat the procees for 2 weeks . You will definitely get a better result.
Step 3:
Consult with your dermatologist or doctor regarding post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and discuss about the two major products of hydroquinone and retinol.. These are highly effective in removing post inflammatory hyperpigmentation while side effect of irritation and rash may occur.
Step 4:
It is better to use post inflammatory lotion .The most important remedies from lemon juice to retinol may be much more fruitful but there is a little chance of complication in healing process.
Step 5:
Investigate how the use of chemical peel, leaser treatment and azeliac acid application or other therapy is suitable in your case. You doctor can find out the advantage and disadvantage for these option and can guide you best.
Step 6:
You can also try to use hypo-allergic makeupto camouflage the effect of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. This will help you to restore during healing process safe and non –intrusive way.
Leave a Reply