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Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation

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Evidence-Based Procedural Dermatology

Abstract

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is an acquired hypermelanosis due to overproduction of melanin from cutaneous inflammation or injury. PIH can occur in all skin types and can be very difficult to treat. Treatment can be medical or procedural. Medical therapies include topical depigmenting agents such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, and licorice extract, as well as topical retinoids, vitamin C, and sunscreens. Procedures that may be used to treat PIH include chemical peels, blue light photodynamic therapy (PDT), and various lasers including but not limited to the Q-switched ruby laser, the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, and the fractional laser. The data available in the literature is limited to scarce case reports and case series. More studies need to be carried out to determine the overall effectiveness of each of the laser treatments described above.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA

    Renee C. Sheinin & David M. Ozog

  2. Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA

    Henry W. Lim

Authors
  1. Renee C. Sheinin
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  2. Henry W. Lim
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  3. David M. Ozog
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Correspondence to David M. Ozog .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Murad Alam

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Sheinin, R.C., Lim, H.W., Ozog, D.M. (2019). Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation. In: Alam, M. (eds) Evidence-Based Procedural Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02023-1_54

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02023-1_54

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-02022-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-02023-1

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