Have you ever noticed dark spots show up on your skin after an acne breakout or other type of skin damage or injury? This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), a type of skin discoloration that shows up after the skin has been inflamed or injured. PIH is often mistaken for true acne scars, since it is very common after pimples have healed.
While post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be somewhat difficult to treat, there are gentle, effective options like VI Peel that can help.
What Causes Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation?
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs when your skin produces too much melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its color, in response to inflammation or injury. This overproduction of melanin can cause brown, black, red or even purplish spots that linger long after the original inflammation has resolved.
The most common causes of PIH include acne, eczema, psoriasis, cuts, burns and even certain cosmetic treatments that can irritate or damage the skin. People with darker skin tones are more prone to PIH due to having higher levels of melanin, but this condition can affect anyone.
Why Is PIH So Difficult to Treat?
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be particularly difficult to treat for a couple of reasons. First, it typically occurs in the deeper layers of skin, making it difficult for topical creams and serums to effectively target.
Secondly, some skin treatments that work well for other skin problems, such as lasers, microneedling and others, can sometimes make PIH worse. This is because these treatments can temporarily trigger inflammation as part of the skin rejuvenation process, but this inflammation can then trigger more melanin production and therefore worsen post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Thus, the key to effectively treating PIH is to use gentle skin treatments that do not cause your skin to become inflamed, yet that can still reach deeper layers of skin where they can target excess pigment.
How VI Peel Can Help
VI Peel is a type of chemical peel that is available in several different formulations, so it can be customized to meet your skin’s unique needs. In this way, a lighter VI Peel can be very gentle on the skin, making it a safe and effective choice for all skin types and tones and treating PIH. In fact, VI Peel is one of the few skin treatments that can also work very well for melasma, another type of hyperpigmentation that can be notoriously difficult to treat.
VI Peel contains a blend of ingredients like salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid and vitamin C, which work together to exfoliate, lighten dark spots and accelerate cell turnover for a more even skin tone and texture. By penetrating the surface layers of the skin, VI Peel’s powerful ingredients are able to target pigmentation at its source while promoting healthy cell renewal.
If skin discoloration is keeping you from feeling your best, a customized VI Peel may be able to help. Call our Plymouth office today at 612-213-1111 or get in touch with us online to easily schedule a consultation and take the first step toward improving your complexion.
Author: Dr. Jennifer Harrington
Dr. Jennifer Harrington is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and the medical director at SpaVie in Minneapolis. Dr. Harrington is recognized as one of the best female plastic surgeons, and is locally and nationally renowned for bringing the highest standards of medical excellence and aesthetic sensitivity to all procedures of the breast, body and face.
