Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation- Forget me not

There are many causes for hyperpigmentation. Sun exposure is the main one. More than that, it can worsen any other kind of skin pigmentation.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is especially nasty because it’s caused by a skin injury.

Acne scars are the most common kind but some of us get them from cuts, bruises, and other not-so-nice things.

Also, chemical peels and laser treatments can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. People with darker skin are, unfortunately, more prone to it. Sorry, that’s life!

Even Mosquito bites that are scratched too much can cause spots. Be cautious!

Also, some medications can cause hyperpigmentation as a side effect – Contraceptives, Antibiotics, pain killers, and more.

You can read here how I got my melasma in my 20s from trying to treat my acne!

What are the 2 kinds of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation?

1. Epidermis pigmentation – The spots are on the outer layer of the skin – easier to treat though not too easy.
2. Dermis hyperpigmentation – The spots are deeper in the skin so much harder to treat, if at all. Bad news! The way to prevent this kind of scar is not to scratch and most important, not to blow up pimples.

How to minimize post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation?

• First, treat the injury/acne/bites etc. With injury it’s quite clear, you can’t treat a bleeding tissue.

-It’s important to treat mosquito bites and any other bites, especially in order to prevent scratching. Aloe vera, Lavender, or Tea Tree essential oils. You can try something from the chemist if you don’t mind chemicals but mainly, just don’t scratch. Make your busy and remember: If you start scratching, you will probably want to continue so don’t even start with it.

-Do not pop pimples – This will make you the worst kind of hyperpigmentation, which is deeper in the skin and harder to treat. Beware! Never use any kind of peeling on active acne fr the same reason.

-Stay away from the sun if you have not already. It’s not good for your skin in so many ways and now you know it can also worsen your post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Hooray!

How to treat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

First, know it’s not going to be too easy. Prepare for a fight!

-You can use laser, nitrogen oxide, and other “quick” methods. You should be cautious, especially if your complexion is dark to begin with. Go only to a clinic you trust and ask them about the after-effects. If they say that in rare cases the spots can come back or worsen, do take it seriously. Especially if you have darker skin your risk is higher.

-You can try all sorts of homemade natural treatments. I wouldn’t recommend undiluted lemon juice. You can use it diluted in olive oil. You can use other fruit or yogurt but the thing is, most of these treatments are quite messy. You will look good for an hour or two and then the effect is almost gone. Some say you’ll see an effect after doing it every day for months. I just never had the patience. Please share if you did.

The natural approach to treating Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

The treatment should include 3 steps:

1. Sun protection – Protect your skin from the sun, especially your face. It will save you from some wrinkles too. You can use a hat or sunscreen. Sunscreens almost always contain chemicals. I do prefer the method of hiding from the sun but sometimes you just have to use sunscreen. I use sunscreen every day because I just can’t hide from the sun well enough.
2. Treating the spots.
3. Cleansing – Gently, according to your skin type. Mainly because you do not want all this sunscreen on your face at night.

For treating the spots the fastest natural way I know is my natural skin care. The soap will do most of the exfoliation too and treat your acne, so you can use it also to prevent future scars. You gotta love this product:)

The cream will do the lightening but you will need to exfoliate once or twice a week to make your skin look cleaner and get rid of extra sebum.

Hope this was informative and helpful for you. Any questions? In the comments.