How does post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation develop?

You've probably heard of hyperpigmentation before. It refers to areas of skin that appear darker than others. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation also involves dark patches on the skin. However, these are triggered by injury. Learn more about this and what you can do about it here.

What exactly is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation?

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation always results from inflammation of the skin. This can be acne or pimples, but also burns, eczema, or other skin injuries. The dark spots that then appear don't just appear on the face—the entire body can be affected.

The pigment spots can be smaller or larger. This usually depends on the severity of the inflammation. The color is usually brownish, reddish, or even black. In fact, darker skin types are more frequently affected by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation than lighter skin types. However, it can generally occur in allskin types .

Often the spots disappear on their own, but rarely do they remain. How quickly they become invisible depends primarily on the color difference between the pigment spot and the rest of the skin.

Why does post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occur?

The formation of dark spots in areas of injury is a completely normal reaction of the skin. Inflammation stimulates the cells called melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin. Melanin, by the way, is the skin pigment responsible for the color of the skin. Its job is to protect the skin. It's understandable, then, that more of it is produced when inflammation occurs.

Excessive melanin production causes dark spots to appear where inflammation is located.

How can post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation be prevented?

Many sufferers find these dark patches of skin, colloquially known as acne scars, unsightly. However, they can be prevented.

Hands off pimples

Yes, it's tempting to pop pimples. But if you're not used to it, you risk only making the inflammation worse. You've probably experienced this yourself: The pimple wasn't actually that big – until you started squeezing it. Suddenly, it's red and swollen even more. That shows what's happened. You didn't pop the pimple properly, and the inflammation has penetrated even deeper into the tissue. There's a high risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation developing here. So, it's best to stay away from your pimples. This way, you can prevent unsightly skin blemishes that last much longer than the pimple itself.

Use sunscreen

Good sun protection is always important—not just if you're prone to acne scars. But especially if you've struggled with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on a regular basis, you should never leave the house without sunscreen. Our Hyaluron Cream SPF 20 is particularly useful here. Not only does it care for your skin, it also has built-in sun protection. The SPF here is 20, which should be the minimum for everyday use. Of course, you can also apply sunscreen over a day cream that doesn't have a built-in SPF. If you plan to sunbathe extensively, you should use at least SPF 50 to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Care for and protect your skin

The best way to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is, of course, to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. Of course, some injuries just happen, no matter your skin type . But skin imperfections can be easily managed with the right skincare routine . There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as the right skincare always depends on your skin type. Basically, however, it is important to cleanse your skin properly. To do this, use an oil-based cleanser every evening, such as our Gentle Oil Cleanser as the first step in your cleansing routine to remove oil-based residues such as sebum, makeup, or sunscreen. The second step is deep pore cleansing. A water-based cleanser is best for this, such as a cleansing foam, cleansing gel, or cleansing milk. Our Cleansing Foam , for example, is ideal. After the first step has dissolved all residues and opened the pores, the second cleanser can now completely remove any remaining dirt particles and dead skin cells.

To prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, you should also pay attention to the ingredients in your skincare products. Vitamin C, for example, has proven extremely effective in preventing the onset of hyperpigmentation. You'll find it in our Vitamin C Serum , which combats skin imperfections and promotes a radiant complexion, and in our Vitamin C Cream . This not only prevents the formation of dark spots but also wrinkles, and also protects your skin from environmental influences.

How should you care for damaged skin?

If, despite all your care, you notice inflammations like pimples or other injuries on your skin, there's no need to despair. Damaged skin requires very specific care so that it can heal quickly and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is prevented or only mildly developed.

Here, too, the type of inflammation plays a role. If you suffer from skin imperfections or pimples, then cleansing as described above is absolutely essential. Make sure you use gentle products that don't damage your skin barrier. High-quality ingredients that care for your skin are especially important here. In addition to cleansing, it is necessary to provide the skin with plenty of moisture. The assumption that you can dry out pimples is incorrect. Your skin needs moisture to strengthen the skin barrier so that pimples and other blemishes can no longer appear. A serum like our Hyaluron Serum, which provides intensive moisture, combined with a moisturizer, is ideal here.

If you have acute wounds, a soothing ointment is recommended first. Depending on the injury, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.