How to Alleviate Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

A common-sense plan will help to heal break-outs and speed your skin's recovery.

Do acne break-outs leave your skin with hard-to-camouflage, long-lasting dark spots? The scientific name for this condition is post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation. In some people, inflammation of the skin causes an over-production of the skin-pigment melanin (the same chemical responsible for your skin tone, freckles and occasional sun tan.) Since acne is usually accompanied by inflammation, individuals with this condition are left with noticeable dark spots even after the acne has healed. These spots can take up to several months to fade. However, there is a common-sense plan that will alleviate symptoms of this condition, helping to heal break-outs and speed your skin's recovery.

Things You'll Need

• Non-anti-bacterial, moisturizer-free bar soap
• 2 percent Hydroquinone fade cream
• Oil-free facial sunscreen
• Oil-free moisturizer
• Caffeine-free tea (green, black or herbal)

Instructions

1. Wash your face using plain soap and warm water. Bar soap is cheaper than anything else and adequately removes oil and dirt from the skin, usually without over-drying. There are many acne-treatment products on the market, which may be very effective in the short-term. However, over time they may cause excess drying of the skin.

2. Apply a generous amount of fade cream wherever you have a current break-out or a dark spot from a past break-out.

3. Apply a very generous amount of sunscreen to your face and neck, even if you have a dark complexion, once the fade cream has absorbed into your skin. The use of sunscreen is probably the most important step since sunlight, even in small amounts, will stimulate the production of melanin in your skin and thus offset the effectiveness of fade cream.

4. Wash your face and reapply fade cream and sunscreen if your face begins to feel oily during the day.

5. Repeat the process at bedtime, but substitute an oil-free moisturizer for the sunscreen so as to keep your skin hydrated during the night. Well-hydrated skin heals faster.

6. Strong-brew your favorite caffeine-free tea and drink three to five cups during the day. But don't use the tea to eliminate fruit juices or milk from your diet, as these contain important nutrients not found in tea. The mega-dose of antioxidants and hydration will do wonders for your skin, reducing inflammation, hastening healing and increasing softness of skin.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to get a good night's sleep. Sleep deprivation wreaks havoc on your body, making you more prone to break-outs, inflammation and slow healing.

• Avoid the use of any face make-up that might clog pores, such as powders, concealers and foundations.

References

• DermNet NZ: Post-Inflammatory Hyper-Pigmentation