Your hyperpigmentation might actually be post inflammatory erythema. Here's how to tell the difference [skin concerns] [misc]

Beauty Tips For Body Care
I see so many people here ask how to reduce their post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) but when they post a selfie what they actually have is post inflammatory erythema! So what's the difference?PIH are brown or black marks and are caused by an over production of melanin. Melanin is what make your hair and skin dark. Darker skintypes (IV to VI on the fitzpatrick scale) are more prone to PIH because they have more active melanocytes, the cells thar produce melanin.PIE on the other hand are red or purple and are caused by damage to capillaries. Lighter skin types are more susceptible to PIE. Having said that, any skin type can get either, and it's possible to have a mix of both.So why is it important to know the difference? They are treated very differently. I spent years trying to treat my so called hyperpigmentation only to realise I was doing the wrong thing because I actually had PIE.How to treat PIH:PIH is fairly easy. Inhibit melanin production to stop the spots getting darker and increase cell turnover to lighten them. AHAs, BHAs, retinoids, vitamin C are popular. But in the source link at the bottom the author there gives a full list of products known to help PIH.How to treat PIE:PIE is trickier. The only scientifically proven ways of treating PIE are vascular lasers/v-beam or silicone sheets. The lasers work by penetrating your skin and dispersing the damaged blood vessels. Silicone sheets increase the hydration of the outer most layer of skin, and maintain skin barrier integrity. Both PIH and PIE fade in time.However, anecdotally there are other ways of treating it. The number one way is hydration. Hydration is key. Personally I notice my PIE looks much much better when I use hydrating serums and sheet masks. Others say vitamin C and niacinamide help a lot. Also using vaseline or aquaphor to create a barrier similar to silicone sheets help.I hope that helps clear up any confusion! For any more info check out the source here. It goes into a lot more detail about what they are and how to treat them.
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by alyaaz