What is Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)?: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) is the increase of pigment in an area of skin where inflammation has occurred.  If you have ever noticed that your skin becomes darker where you have had acne, eczema, or where the skin has been injured or traumatized, the reaction may be due to postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.  PIH can also occur after chemical peels or laser hair removal treatments.

The nature of PIH is somewhat mysterious as it may be triggered after certain events, but not others.  Or, as is possible with laser hair removal or chemical peels, may show up after you have already had several complication free treatments.  It can occur in any skin type, but is more common in darker-skinned or ethnic individuals.

While the exact causes of PIH are still unknown, there are treatments to help resolve its footprint.  The use of prescription strength hydroquinone (a skin-lightening agent) with a retinoid is very effective if used consistently.  The idea is to exfoliate the affected layers of skin while also reducing excess pigment production.  A dermatologist can prescribe these medications and track their effectiveness.

The best way prevent PIH is to use sunscreen daily.  The sun makes PIH worse, so avoid sun exposure on affected areas.  Also, if you are receiving laser treatments for hair removal, be sure that the practitioner is experienced and will use settings appropriate for your skin type.  In our practice we have lasers specific for different skin types to make the procedure as safe as possible.  However, PIH is unpredicatable, so even with the most competent care, it can still occur.  That is why it is important to have any laser treatments  performed at an office with a dermatologist on site that can help resolve any complications promptly.

Tags: bay area dermatologist, chemical peels, hydroquinone, laser hair removal, pigment, PIH, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, retinoid, san francisco bay area dermatologist

This entry was posted on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 2:38 pm and is filed under Skin Health, Treatments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.