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Skin Pigmentation

EVERYTHING ABOUT POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION

ACNE SCARS. TYPES. TREATMENT

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Do you notice those marks left on your face after your acne is healed?

Or the marks that you have after injury or burns?

Can you guess what it is?

Well, this is exactly what this blog will be about.

Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation.

That is quite a long name and it is difficult to remember, right?

But yes, this is what you are going through.

From the clinic of the best dermatologist in Ahmedabad, Opulence Dermatology & Aesthetics will help you educate about it.

These marks might or might not bother you.

But when you think about it at night, don’t you think to get rid of them as you wake up?

Well they can’t vanish overnight but we can help you get rid of them over time.

We believe that getting to know the problem is the first step to solving it.

So, here we go.

What is Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)?

Darkening of the skin in an area of prior injury or skin condition is caused by the excess pigment (melanin) left over from the healing process, known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

It’s also possible that the darkening is caused by an iron pigment that’s left behind after old red blood cells die.

This condition looks like discoloration of the skin that is flat and dark.

Depending on your skin tone and the depth of the discoloration, it may appear white, pink, red, purple, brown, or black.

PIH can affect any skin type or sex.

People with medium to dark complexions, on the other hand, experience it more severely and for a longer period.

Sometimes it is confused with acne scarring but these cannot be called scars as they can go away over time.

Whereas, if you have acne scars, your hair follicles are damaged.

If you suffer from acne you should check out the blog about acne scars to prevent them in the future.

Because those scars can stay forever.

So yes, PIH and acne scars are confused but both are different conditions.

Opulence Dermatology & Aesthetics plans on spreading more awareness about dermatological issues.

The more people are aware of their skin, the more they will take it seriously.

So, the next thing we bring is what could cause PIH?

Let’s have a look.

Causes of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

When the skin becomes inflamed as a result of a lesion or irritation, such as a scratch, rash, or acne, PIH occurs.

The skin develops an excessive amount of melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its color, as it heals.

These are the reasons for the cause of excessive melanin production:

  • Sun exposure or Sunburn
  • Acne or popping acne
  • Rashes
  • Burns
  • Allergies
  • Infections

The PIH caused by these factors can be extremely stubborn as they directly affect your epidermis (top layer of the skin) and the dermis (middle layer of the skin.

So you need the right advice from a dermatologist who examines and understands your skin thoroughly.

And if you don’t know how to choose a dermatologist , we have the perfect answer for you.

Opulence Dermatology & Aesthetics can take care of that quite well because we want people to like their skin.

And we encourage it with the right treatment or consultation.

Treatments for Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Well, we have a piece of good news for you.

PIH can fade over time. But time depends from person to person.

There are too many ’buts’ in this situation.

It can take years for PIH to fade, the darker the mark, the longer it will take.

To speed up this process of fading we also have treatments to recommend to you.

That makes it 2 pieces of good news!

So, without any wait, these are the treatments for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation:

  • Topical and Over-the-Counter Treatments

    If you have some subtle PIH marks, over-the-counter products can actually help you vanish them.

    But if the PIH is deeper prescription topical treatments will be necessary:
    – Retinoids
    – Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
    – Hydroquinone
    – Azelaic Acid

    These topical treatments exfoliate or brighten your skin on a deeper level.

    But it is always necessary to consult a dermatologist before using them because they might irritate the skin if they don’t suit you.

  • Chemical Peels

    Chemical peels are a simple yet effective approach to address PIH as well as other skin flaws including wrinkles and creases.

    The procedure entails applying specially formulated chemicals to the skin.

    These peels cause a controlled form of damage, removing the PIH-affected outer layers of skin and revealing skin with enhanced texture and look.

    Chemical peels are classified according to their substances and concentrations.

    And what chemical peel will be used on you is determined by the dermatologist after examining your skin.

  • Laser Therapy

    Laser therapy is a procedure that involves accurately removing skin layer by layer using short, concentrated pulsating light beams.

    The regions of skin that have PIH are removed using this type of controlled harm.

    And new skin cells and proteins are stimulated to develop, leaving you with smooth, clear, radiant skin.

PIH medical procedures can be combined with medical procedures in order to produce the best results.

But taking an action on your own might make it worse for you.

A Word from Opulence Dermatology & Aesthetics…

Living with the condition of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation might not affect you physically as it does not cause any pain or discomfort.

But your mental health is important too.

And it might start deteriorating because of PIH.

Opulence Dermatology & Aesthetics does not want that.

Temporarily you can cover these marks with makeup.

But that might make you feel even worse.

And so the perfect treatments exist for you as we mentioned above.

So whether you hesitate or not, consulting a dermatologist will help you.

Because your questions need to be heard. Book an appointment today!